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Table 2 ELM-based risk classification for cutaneous pigmented lesions

From: The role of spectrophotometry in the diagnosis of melanoma

MELANOCYTIC LESIONS

ELM FEATURES

Type 1

(very high risk)

Lesion with a pigment network and any of the classical ELM features specific for melanoma (pseudopods, radial streaming, blue-gray veil, atypical vessel, etc.)

Type 2

(high risk)

Lesion with a pigment network and subtle new ELM features that may suggest melanoma but often are also seen in atypical nevi.

Type 3

(medium risk)

Lesion with a pigment network carrying subtle perturbations that can be detected in atypical naevus as well as in melanocytic hyperplasia.

Type 4

(low risk)

Lesion with a benign appearing network.

Type 5

(very low risk)

Lesion with a benign appearing network and with a globular pattern or another benign ELM pattern.