ABSTRACT
Microscopy of cutaneous surface structures is an idea almost as old as the science of optics. New interest in this approach has arisen due to the necessity of improving the diagnostic accuracy for pigmented skin lesions. Most important is the identification of malignant melanoma as well as the differentiation from pigmented tumors mimicking melanoma. The optical instruments on the market may be categorized into monocular and binocular ones, and these categories may be subdivided further into devices permitting photodocumentation or not. Some of the instruments were used originally for other purposes in surface technology. The reflections at the interface between air and the horny layer may not be reduced only by the application of oil, but also by polarized light. The use of appropriately adjusted polarizing filters removes the light regularly reflected from the surface which has preserved its plane of polarization.
