Dermoscopy is a non-invasive method used in the diagnosis and for differentiation of benign-malignant pigmented skin lesions.

In this study, pigmented skin lesions were evaluated using methods of clinical, dermatoscopic and histopathologic examination. This evaluation was intended to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of clinical and dermatoscopic examinations in the diagnosis, as well as melanocytic-nonmelanocytic and benign-malignant differentiation of the pigmented skin lesions.

The study was conducted on 94 pigmented skin lesions in a total of 67 patients, 45 females and 22 males, who presented to the Dermatology outpatient clinic of fırat University Medical School between 2005 and 2006 years. Pigmented lesions of the patients were examined clinically, dermatoscopically and histopathologically. Clinical, dermatoscopic and histopathologic diagnoses of the lesions were compared.

When clinical and dermatoscopic pre-diagnoses of the lesions were compared, 73 (77.7%) were found consistent with one another; when clinical and histopathologic pre-diagnoses were compared, 63 (67%) were found consistent; and when dermatoscopic and histopathologic pre-diagnoses were compared, 82 (87%) were found consistent Considering the histopathologic diagnoses, it was established that clinical examination, the sensitivity was 96.6 % and the spesifity was 61.5 % while dermoscopy was 97.7% sensitive and 88.8% specific in differentiating between melanocytic and nonmelanocytic pigmented skin lesions. In the benign-malignant differentiation clinical examination was 92.4% sensitive and 72.7% specific, whereas dermoscopy was 97.7% sensitive and 80% specific

In conclusion, dermoscopy is a more sensitive and more specific method, relative to the method of clinical examination, in the diagnosis, as well as in differentiating (veya in differential diagnosis) benign-malignant pigmented skin lesions.