CLINICAL
PEARLS
A novel technique of digital photography for oral lesions Deep Suresh Joshipura, MBBS, MD,a and Suresh Joshipura, MD, FRCP, PhD, FAAD, DVDb Bhuj and Rajkot, India Key words: buccal mucosa; oral lesions; photography; prognostic value; proper illumination; unique technique.
CLINICAL CHALLENGE Oral lesions are often seen in multiple systemic dermatoses and diseases of the oral cavity. In today’s era of technology, digital photography of the lesion is imperative for a dermatologist. It helps in keeping medical records and assessing the prognosis of lesions. Capturing oral lesions is occasionally challenging, especially when present on buccal mucosa and palate because of absence of proper illumination of the lesion (Fig 1).
Fig 1. Patient with oral lesions on buccal mucosa not visible using traditional photography.
SOLUTION We have been using a technique of precisely photographing oral lesions on gums, palate, and buccal mucosa without compromising focus and light exposure. In our method, the camera is kept at a distance of about 7 to 8 in from the chin, using measuring tape. Flash is kept on and a normal photograph is taken without using optical zoom of the camera. We have been using a mobile phone camera with standard settings of 8 megapixels, f/2.2 aperture, 1/30 exposure time, and built-in flash. However, this technique works with any standard digital camera.
From the Department of Dermatology, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuja; and Skin Center, Rajkot.b Funding sources: None. Conflicts of interest: None declared. Reprint requests: Deep Suresh Joshipura, MBBS, MD, Department of Dermatology, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences,
G. K. General Hospital, Opposite Lotus Colony, Bhuj, Gujarat, India 370001. E-mail: [email protected]. J Am Acad Dermatol 2015;73:e19-20. 0190-9622/$36.00 Ó 2015 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.03.044
e19
e20 Joshipura and Joshipura
J AM ACAD DERMATOL
JULY 2015
The resulting image captures the oral lesions with proper brightness and morphology (Fig 2). Consequently, images can be digitally zoomed and cropped to appropriately visualize lesions of interest.
Fig 2. Photograph of same patient taken from a distance of 7 to 8 in from chin with flash on. Note that lesions on buccal mucosa are easily seen, which were not visible in Fig 1.
PEARLS
A novel technique of digital photography for oral lesions Deep Suresh Joshipura, MBBS, MD,a and Suresh Joshipura, MD, FRCP, PhD, FAAD, DVDb Bhuj and Rajkot, India Key words: buccal mucosa; oral lesions; photography; prognostic value; proper illumination; unique technique.
CLINICAL CHALLENGE Oral lesions are often seen in multiple systemic dermatoses and diseases of the oral cavity. In today’s era of technology, digital photography of the lesion is imperative for a dermatologist. It helps in keeping medical records and assessing the prognosis of lesions. Capturing oral lesions is occasionally challenging, especially when present on buccal mucosa and palate because of absence of proper illumination of the lesion (Fig 1).
Fig 1. Patient with oral lesions on buccal mucosa not visible using traditional photography.
SOLUTION We have been using a technique of precisely photographing oral lesions on gums, palate, and buccal mucosa without compromising focus and light exposure. In our method, the camera is kept at a distance of about 7 to 8 in from the chin, using measuring tape. Flash is kept on and a normal photograph is taken without using optical zoom of the camera. We have been using a mobile phone camera with standard settings of 8 megapixels, f/2.2 aperture, 1/30 exposure time, and built-in flash. However, this technique works with any standard digital camera.
From the Department of Dermatology, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuja; and Skin Center, Rajkot.b Funding sources: None. Conflicts of interest: None declared. Reprint requests: Deep Suresh Joshipura, MBBS, MD, Department of Dermatology, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences,
G. K. General Hospital, Opposite Lotus Colony, Bhuj, Gujarat, India 370001. E-mail: [email protected]. J Am Acad Dermatol 2015;73:e19-20. 0190-9622/$36.00 Ó 2015 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.03.044
e19
e20 Joshipura and Joshipura
J AM ACAD DERMATOL
JULY 2015
The resulting image captures the oral lesions with proper brightness and morphology (Fig 2). Consequently, images can be digitally zoomed and cropped to appropriately visualize lesions of interest.
Fig 2. Photograph of same patient taken from a distance of 7 to 8 in from chin with flash on. Note that lesions on buccal mucosa are easily seen, which were not visible in Fig 1.
