Mole mapping

"Mapping" is a general term for programmes that monitor changes in suspicious moles and detect new ones. It’s of greatest benefit to people who have a high risk of melanoma.

A number of specialised clinics offer programmes such as MoleMap, MoleCheck, MoleSpec, MoleTrac and MoleMate. Your dermatologist may also use a mapping programme.

The tools of mole mapping are sequential imaging and total body photography.

• Sequential imaging tracks changes in individual moles. Suspicious moles are photographed and their dermoscopic images stored on a computer to form a baseline for follow-up checks. But the effectiveness of this system depends on the technician’s ability to select the right moles to photograph. You may be given prints or digital copies on a CD so you can carry out your own checks at home.
• Total body photography is used for people with a lot of moles. All existing moles are captured so new arrivals can be identified.

The mapping’s just a tool. It’s important that its images are analysed by an experienced professional – preferably a dermatologist. Your doctor may use an automated diagnosis system to help decide whether a mole needs to be removed or not. These compare your moles with a large database of melanomas and benign moles.

We tried it

We sent a volunteer to have her moles mapped.

At the start of the hour-long session the technician discussed our volunteer’s melanoma risk. Jane (not her real name) has a family history of skin cancer, spent time in the sun as a child, has fair skin and has a lot of moles.

The whole of her body was photographed, a section at a time. More than a dozen photos were taken – of each arm and leg, her torso and her face, even the soles of her feet. Jane felt perfectly comfortable as she kept on her underwear and wore a gown for much of the session.

The technician then examined Jane’s skin with a dermoscope, looking for moles that might be a melanoma and for signs of other skin cancers. More than 30 moles were photographed and referenced back to a body photograph so they could be identified in follow-up visits.

The photographs and records are stored on a secure server where they can be analysed by a dermatologist. Jane received a report (“all clear”) within a week and her doctor received one as well. In a year she will receive a reminder for a follow-up visit.

Jane’s verdict
"The session cost more than $200 but it was worth the expense. I felt I received a very thorough examination. As most of my moles are on my back and shoulders, I can’t easily keep an eye on them myself and notice when anything has changed."