29 April, 2022

barnaclínic+ launches its Dermatological Diagnosis Unit

Skin cancer is the most frequent tumour and it is estimated that 20% of people will develop it throughout their lives. In Spain alone, this disease affects 300 people out of 100.000 each year. Malignant melanoma, on the other hand, is a tumour that is caused by an abnormal growth of some skin cells, whose incidence in recent years is possibly increasing in relation to sun exposure habits. Because these skin tumours appear externally, they are easier to detect and if they are diagnosed in the early stages, they have a high chance of cure. Due to this importance of early diagnosis, barnaclínic+ has launched its Dermatological Diagnosis Unit.

Prestigious professionals with extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer

This unit will be directed by Dr Susana Puig and Dr Josep Malvehy. They both have more than 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, melanoma, skin tumours and dermatological surgery. In addition, the barnaclínic+ Dermatology Service has other professionals of recognised prestige, who are all a part of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

The barnaclínic+ Dermatological Diagnosis Unit is led by Dr Susana Puig and Dr Josep Malvehy, who have more than 20 years of experience in diagnosing and treating skin tumours

In addition to having great professionals, the new unit will also have the latest technology on the market in dermatological diagnosis and skin cancer. Thus, for example, the professionals led by Dr. Puig and Dr. Malvehy are experts in the use of confocal microscopy, a non-invasive diagnostic technique for skin lesions with cellular resolution, similar to conventional histology but performed in real time and painlessly. Thanks to this technology it is possible to visualise the different layers of the skin and study its structure.

New Vectra360 robot, the latest technology in dermatological diagnosis

In line with the commitment to innovative technology, the Dermatological Diagnosis Unit will also have the Vectra360 robot, being one of the only two centres in Spain to have one. This robot is a device that combines 3D images and sequential digital dermoscopy images to non-invasively screen both melanomas and non-melanoma skin cancers.

barnaclínic+ will have the Vectra360 robot, being one of the only two centres in Spain to have one. This robot makes it possible to non-invasively track both melanomas and non-melanoma skin cancers

It is a piece of equipment that is equipped with 98 cameras and a cross-polarised lighting network – which prevents glare and allows a better view of skin lesions – capable of capturing images of the entire surface of the skin and offering specialists a three-dimensional view of the patient. In less than a second, the new robot is capable of taking images of the patient’s entire body in three dimensions, with which it is possible to make a complete dermatological map.

“This has application in many areas of Dermatology, but above all it is very useful in patients with a high risk of melanoma and skin cancer, in which it will be possible to identify the lesions that they present, locate them accurately and compare the results between different visits. changes that occur”, explains Dr Susana Puig.

«The Vectra360 is very useful in patients with a high risk of melanoma and skin cancer, in which it will be possible to identify the lesions they present, locate them accurately and compare the changes that occur between different visits»

Dr Susana Puig, dermatologist

This photographic analysis carried out by Vectra360 allows access to an extremely detailed global vision of the surface of the skin, to which it will be possible in the future to apply diagnostic techniques based on artificial intelligence. “We are experiencing a digital revolution in medicine. We are now developing different projects that we hope will translate into innovations that in the future will allow us to improve early diagnosis of skin cancer”, pointed out Dr Josep Malvehy.

«We are experiencing a digital revolution in medicine. We are developing different projects that we hope will allow us to improve the early diagnosis of skin cancer»

Dr Josep Malvehy, dermatólogo

Possibilities of treatment of skin cancer and melanoma

The new Dermatological Diagnosis Unit will not only focus on identifying skin cancer and melanoma, but will also search for other skin diseases and will offer the different treatments currently available, which usually begin with the surgical removal of the tumour. The difficulty of this intervention will depend on the type of tumour, its size and location, but in most cases, it can be performed on an outpatient basis, without the need to be admitted to the hospital.

In addition to surgical treatment, other alternatives will also be offered, such as radiotherapy, cryotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, as well as photodynamic therapy and imiquimod, a treatment for some cases of skin cancer based on topical preparations.

Image and video: Hospital Clínic de Barcelona