Specific Prevention Profiles are Check Ups designed to investigate any risk factors early and address specific health needs. The Melanoma Prevention Profile includes a preliminary medical examination and a final examination, performed by the Check Up Coordinating Physician.
Melanoma is a very common skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin. Melanoma mainly appears on healthy (ex-new) skin where no moles are present or, less frequently, it can form from an existing mole. Any area of the skin, especially those most commonly exposed to the sun, can be affected by melanoma, but it can also appear in covered areas such as the soles of the feet, genitals, scalp, and other sites such as the eye and mucosa of the oral cavity.
The main risk factors for melanoma are light phototype ( white skin, red or blond hair, light eyes, ease of sunburn), family history or a previous history of melanoma, presence of a high number of moles, sun exposure and use of UV lamps, and genetic predisposition.
The dermatologic examination, through clinical examination, allows identification of those at risk (by phototype, for example), enables investigation of possible genetic, environmental, and intercurrent disease factors, and directs the patient to targeted instrumental examinations such as dermoscopy and videodermatoscopy, and frequent checkups.
Mole inspection involves the observation of nevi using a dermatoscope, which is a special instrument equipped with an epiluminescence microscope. This is a painless procedure that allows the physician to visualize details of the mole, not visible to the naked eye, and thus intercept the possible development of a melanoma in its early stages. In people at high risk for skin cancer, it is also possible to perform 'mole mapping' with videodermatoscopy, that is, to record and compare images of moles during subsequent dermatologic examinations, so that any small changes can be detected. In this way, a malignant lesion can be intercepted early and surgical removal with histological examination can be planned in time.
