SKIN CANCER CHECKS
Mole mapping
Detect melanoma earlier with total body photography.
- Performed by qualified skin cancer doctors and experienced melanographers
- Service includes dermoscopic examination of the entire body by a doctor
- Overview photographs of up to 30 body regions
Mole mapping is the process of taking a series of photographs to document the entire body surface, recording the location of moles and other skin lesions. The photos act as a reference for later comparison, to allow detection of new or changing skin lesions.
Total body mole mapping photography can enable earlier diagnosis of melanoma and reduce the number of unnecessary excision procedures.
With mole mapping (also known as total body photography, melanoma surveillance photography and skin surface imaging), we carefully examine and photograph your body to record the location and size of your moles. In future visits, the process is repeated, allowing us to track changes precisely.
Our system uses AI technology to analyse changes in your skin and provides access to your images, allowing you to monitor any changes. It also allows you to perform your own molemapping at home (at no cost) if you wish.
Most skin cancers are new, but sometimes, they are pre-existing spots or lumps that have changed
In both cases, comparing a current suspicious spot against a photo taken earlier can help us detect whether a lesion of concern is new or changing. This can enable earlier detection of melanoma and other skin cancers.
“This can enable earlier detection of melanoma and other skin cancers.”
In areas that are hard to see, comparing a photo of the area with one taken earlier is a potential way of detecting changes the patient is not aware of.
On the other hand, sometimes, mole mapping photos confirm that a spot of concern is unchanged compared with previous photos, allowing unnecessary biopsy or excision procedures to be avoided.
At Spot Check, your mole mapping photographs are examined by a doctor while you are in the clinic. We use DermEngine mole mapping software to analyse differences between sequential photos of body regions, increasing the detection rate of new and changing lesions.
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
How it’s done
- Your doctor, nurse or clinician will ask you to undress to your underwear and then put on an examination gown.
- Starting with your head and working systematically from top to bottom, front and back, left and right, the doctor or a nurse will take a series of about 28-30 photos of your whole body, one section at a time.
- You will need to remove your gown for some of these photos. You can continue to wear your underwear, although if you have many spots on your back or breasts, you may prefer to remove your bra. Likewise, if there are many spots on your buttocks, you can briefly drop your underwear so they can be photographed.
- At future mole mapping visits, the same series of photographs will be repeated.
- Your doctor or nurse will compare your photos to see if there have been any changes since the last time you were photographed.
- Your doctor will closely examine any identified new or changing spots to check for any evidence of skin cancer.
Image: Side, front and back views of a human silhouette showing the 28 regions photographed during mole mapping. Typical regions that are photographed and recorded with DermEngine software during mole mapping.
How to prepare
Booked your first mole mapping appointment? Here’s what to do next.
We need the best possible visibility for examining and photographing your skin. Please don’t wear make-up, fake tan or nail polish, and make sure your skin is clean.
If you’ve had mole mapping or other mole mapping done previously, bring a copy of your photos to your appointment.
Mole mapping works best if your skin is clear and the moles are easy to see from a distance. If you are very hairy, you may wish to consider shaving or waxing before your appointment.
The digital mole analytics system detects spots, which includes spots on underwear. We recommend you wear plain, single-colour, non-patterned underwear to increase the accuracy of analysis.
Mapping the moles
Our system can record where your moles are located on your body. This allows the system to identify which moles correspond when future photographs are taken.
Image: Moles from a photograph of a man’s back are mapped onto a computer avatar with DermEngine software.
Identifying changes
At future mole mapping visits, the same series of photographs will be repeated.
Your doctor or nurse will compare your photos to see if there are any changes since the last time you were photographed. Spot Check uses a digital analytics system that automatically identifies new and changing spots and highlights them to assist this process. This happens while you are still at Spot Check Clinic, so you will know as soon as possible if there are any changes of concern.
Image: DermEngine mole mapping software compares photographs of a man’s back at different times and identifies which moles have changed.
Examination of new and changing spots
Your doctor will closely examine any identified new or changing spots to check for any evidence of skin cancer.
Image: A suspect mole is identified, located and a high resolution dermoscopic image is taken for future reference using DermEngine software.
Have a question about mole mapping?
Mole mapping is not the same as a full body skin examination, where a doctor examines and diagnoses your spots but does not necessarily take comprehensive photographs.
We usually perform mole mapping at the same time as a full body skin examination. This ensures that you have all of your moles and skin lesions examined personally by an experienced skin cancer doctor, and a set of photos of your entire body, documenting the location, size and other characteristics of each spot.
Mole mapping is the process of photographing and documenting the entire skin surface and all the moles and lesions on it. Mole mapping is not the same as a full body skin examination, where a doctor examines and diagnoses your spots but does not necessarily take comprehensive photographs.
More infoIf you have a very high risk of melanoma and more than 100 moles, you should consider having mole mapping every year. There is evidence that mole mapping can allow earlier detection of melanoma in high-risk patients and therefore improve the chances of successful treatment.
More infoMole mapping adds to the cost of a skin cancer check and people often feel uncomfortable being photographed while they are nearly naked, so it's understandable to ask if molemapping is worth the expense and trouble. The answer isn't always straightforward; for some people, regular mole mapping is highly recommended, and for others, it doesn't have significant clinical benefits.
More infoMole mapping assists in early melanoma detection. It can help identify changes in your spots, and can work as an extra way of highlighting which of your spots or moles might need closer examination or removal.
More infoMole mapping can take 20-50 minutes, depending on whether it’s your first session or a follow-up and how many moles you have.
More infoYour skin doctor will closely examine any moles or other skin changes detected during mole mapping. If suspicious lesions are detected, we can take a biopsy or perform an excision at our clinic, often on the same day.
More infoYour photos are stored in MoleScope, a shared medical record accessible to you and the Spot Check Clinic team. You can view your photos using a web browser or the MoleScope app, which also allows you to photograph your own spots and upload them to the shared record.
More infoIf you've booked a full body skin check in conjunction with your mole mapping appointment, your skin will be examined by an experienced skin cancer doctor and individual moles or lesions will be examined and photographed dermoscopically.
More infoYou don't need to wait to receive the results of your skin check and mole mapping. Because a doctor is performing your examination, they will inform you immediately if they notice any suspicious spots, lumps or likely skin cancers.
More infoThe frequency of mole mapping varies according to the number of moles and the degree of melanoma risk.
More infoMole mapping costs around $150 in addition to the cost of a full body skin check. This is subject to change; the most up-to-date information is available on our pricing page.
More infoYou don’t need a referral for mole mapping or a skin check by a doctor at Spot Check Clinic.
More infoReferences
Secker LJ, Bergman W, Kukutsch NA. Total body photography as an aid to skin self-examination: a patient’s perspective Acta Derm Venereol. 2016 Feb;96(2):186-90
Deinlein T, Michor C, Hofmann-Wellenhof R et al The importance of total-body photography and sequential digital dermatoscopy for monitoring patients at increased melanoma risk J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2020 Jul;18(7):692-697. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14158. Epub 2020 Jun 29
Salerni G, Carrera C, Lovatto L et al Benefits of total body photography and digital dermatoscopy (“two-step method of digital follow-up”) in the early diagnosis of melanoma in patients at high risk for melanoma J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Jul;67(1):e17-27
Argenziano G, Zalaudek I, Hofmann-Wellenhof R Total body skin examination for skin cancer screening in patients with focused symptoms J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Feb;66(2):212-9
Goodson AG, Florell SR, Hyde M et al Comparative analysis of total body vs. dermatoscopic photographic monitoring of nevi in similar patient populations at risk for cutaneous melanoma Dermatol Surg. 2010 Jul; 36(7): 1087–1098
Cancer Council Australia. What is the role of skin surface imaging (total body photography) in the early diagnosis of patients at high risk of developing melanoma? in Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of melanoma.
Can’t keep track of your moles?
Mole mapping helps us discover which moles are new and changing when you aren’t certain.
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