[Dermoscopy: magnified imaging of pigmented cutaneous tumors]

The early clinical identification of malignant melanoma is important. Pigmented neoplasms are sometimes difficult to diagnose by visual inspection alone. Dermoscopy increases the reliability of the clinical assessment. Dermoscopic criteria of malignancy are well defined on a descriptive ground. They allow an optimal interpretation of the clinical aspect without, however, reaching the sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examination.