What to expect during the examination?
Skin diagnostics in 6 steps
Step 1. Referral and appointment
Based on your referral from your general practitioner or dermatologist, we schedule an appointment for you.
Step 2. Preparation for examination
You will have to undress for this examination and you will receive a thing to wear. This thong ensures that we can capture the entire surface of the skin during the examination. You will receive a bathrobe and slippers that you can wear while you walk to the examination room with the 360WB Vectra. If you prefer, you can bring your own thong, bathrobe, and slippers from home.
Step 3. Taking photos
You will have to remove your bathrobe and place your feet on the indicated spot. You will then stand in front of the device. The device rapidly takes 92 3D photos of your skin in 2 series. These shots cover your entire body. Please make sure that you stand still during the photoshoot. The dermatologist will review the images on a screen in the examination room.
Step 4. Examining the skin
After the photos, you will meet with the dermatologist who will carefully examine your skin for any irregularities and suspicious spots. If necessary, they will remove a spot or mole for further examination. The removal is usually done during the examination.
Step 5. Preliminary results
Right after the examination, you will be told what was observed and found during the examination. You will receive a preliminary result based on these findings and observations.
Step 6. Final results
If any suspicious spots have been removed, they will be examined by a pathologist. After about a week, you will receive a phone call informing you whether melanoma was found.
Results of the skin cancer examination
There are three possible outcomes:
- No melanoma or skin cancer found
That is good news. You will likely be invited for annual monitoring. - Skin cancer found, but not melanoma
We will determine the appropriate treatment based on your results and your situation. You may continue to be monitored at the NKI Center for Early Diagnostics. - Melanoma
You will be referred for treatment; you can decide yourself where you want to receive your treatment. Our Center has close ties to the specialists at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. You can quickly receive further diagnostics and treatment there.
Our friendly professionals collaborate on early diagnostics and scientific research. You may encounter them at our Center.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide among people with a lighter skin type. It is a collective term for various types of skin cancers. Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. Melanoma can develop on healthy skin or from an existing mole. Melanoma can appear anywhere on the skin, including the scalp or the foot soles.
A skin pigmentation or mole with one or more of the following characteristics could be melanoma:
- Irregular edges: no smooth, clean border
- Odd shape, not symmetrical or round
- A mix of different colors (dark and light)
- Larger than 6 millimeters
- The pigmentation appeared suddenly, or an existing mole starts to change, itch, or grow
Unfortunately yes. If melanoma is discovered after it has already spread to other parts of the body, it can be fatal. However, if it is detected early, the chances of recovery are very high.
It can be. If melanoma occurs in your immediate family, you may want to have your moles checked thoroughly every year. We may recommend remaining under our Center’s care after your skin examination.
Definitely not. There are many types of skin cancer. Only about 12% of all skin cancers are melanomas.
No, skin examinations are not painful. At the NKI Center for Early Diagnostics, we use the latest equipment, the Vectra WB360. You will have to stand in front of the camera, and the device takes 92 3D images of your entire body. You will receive more clarity quickly based on these images and additional skin examinations by the dermatologist. Is melanoma present? We may want to remove a mole (under anesthesia) for further investigation.
Certainly, you can go elsewhere for skin examinations. However, we have the Vectra WB360: this allows us to take high-resolution 3D photos of the entire body within seconds. Globally, we are one of the few research centers using this state-of-the-art equipment. The technology increases the accuracy of examinations and follow-up assessments.
We are often able to determine the presence of melanoma based on 3D imaging. If we decide to remove a mole or take a small tissue sample during the examination, it will be analyzed by a pathologist. The results of this analysis usually follow within one week.
