[The dermatoscope. A simplification of epiluminescent microscopy of pigmented skin changes]

The poor prognosis of thick malignant melanomas emphasizes the importance of their early detection. Skin microscopy using a stereomicroscope has been shown to increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis significantly in pigmented skin lesions. Owing to the development of the Heine Delta 10 dermatoscope, skin microscopy has become less difficult and more rapid. Therefore, this technique can now be applied routinely in daily office practice.