Melafind®
The device uses computer vision technology that provides dermatologists with additional information about a mole, which helps them determine whether to biopsy the mole or monitor it with the potential to prevent unnecessary biopsies.
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 15, 2014
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this, Dr. Julie Russak of Russak Dermatology Clinic is making an extra effort to remind everyone to schedule a skin cancer screening. Dr. Russak is one of few doctors trained and practicing with the MelaFind®, a melanoma detection device that can save a patient from an unnecessary biopsy, in New York. There are only about eight MelaFind® devices in New York City.
In the most curable form, melanoma may look like harmless irregular moles to the human eye, but left untreated in this early state, melanoma can spread very quickly. Despite public awareness campaigns regarding sun safety and the use of tanning salons, both the incidence and mortality from melanoma is on the rise, especially among young women. As a result, we encourage our patients to “know their skin” and schedule routine skin cancer screenings at least once a year.
Detecting melanoma with the human eye can be challenging. In an effort to offer our patients the most effective care, we are pleased to offer the MelaFind® in our practice. MelaFind® is the latest smart technology for melanoma detection used by dermatologists during a skin exam to see beneath the surface of the skin and help analyze irregular moles without cutting the skin – very much like a mini MRI of the skin, without radiation.
The device uses computer vision technology that provides dermatologists with additional information about a mole, which helps them determine whether to biopsy the mole or monitor it with the potential to prevent unnecessary biopsies. It’s quick, non-invasive and painless for patients. "The device revolutionized the way we practice medicine and conduct skin cancer surveillance," says Dr. Russak "It features smart imaging technology that picks up on the disorganization of the cells deep below the surface- deeper than a dermatologist can see with a naked eye or dematoscope."
Everyone is at risk for potentially developing melanoma. With MelaFind®, we can now detect potential melanoma at its most curable and treatable stages. For more information on MelaFind®, please visit http://www.melafind.com or http://www.russakdermatology.com.
To schedule a skin exam and experience the device firsthand, please give us a call at 646-873-7546.
For more information about Julie E. Russak, M.D., and Russak Dermatology Clinic, visit russakdermatology.com or follow her practice on Facebook and Twitter (@RussakDerm). To interview or make an appointment with Dr. Russak, contact Juliet Cavallaro at juliet(at)russakdermatolgy(dot)com or (646) 873-7546.
About Julie E. Russak, M.D.
Dr. Russak is a board-certified dermatologist, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and a member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. She graduated with honors from New York University School of Medicine and completed her dermatology residency at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. She completed an Oncology Melanoma Fellowship with world-renowned melanoma expert Darrell Rigel, M.D., and is the recipient of the Marianne Salzberg Award in Dermatology and the Jonas E. Salk Scholar Award. In addition to having a thriving practice, she is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she teaches dermatology residents and medical students.