Mole mapping is a surveillance programme designed to detect skin cancers, particularly melanoma, at an early stage. The procedure involves examining a patient’s entire collection of moles and taking photographs for storage and comparison during follow-up visits.
How Mole Mapping Works
The simplest approach includes a full-body examination by a doctor, with markings on a body diagram indicating concerning moles and dermoscopy images captured using a phone camera for future reference.
More advanced mole mapping uses specialised dermoscopic camera equipment to photograph individual moles. These images are stored in a computer database for analysis by the dermatologist or automated systems, with follow-up images compared for any changes.
Who Should Get Mole Mapping?
Anyone over 18 years old with moles may benefit from this service. It is particularly important for:
- People with multiple moles
- People with odd-looking or atypical moles
- Fair-skinned individuals with previous excessive sun exposure
- Those with a previous melanoma history
- People with first-degree relatives who had melanoma
Recommended Frequency
- Most people: once yearly
- Newly diagnosed melanoma patients: every 3–6 months for 2 years, then yearly
- Patients with lesions of concern: every 3–6 months
- As recommended by the dermatologist
While mole mapping machines are generally accurate, they should not replace thorough clinical evaluation by a dermatologist.