Prof Francesca FARNETANI

Main research topic: melanoma diagnosis and characterization, early recognition of skin tumours and skin diseases, evaluation by means of non invasive methods. She studied the application of dermoscopy for the accurate diagnosis of melanoma and the use of reflectance-mode confocal scanning laser microscopy (a new technique enabling the in vivo visualization of skin structures at cellular level resolution) for the in vivo characterization of skin tumours at a cellular level resolution. Subsequently, the use of confocal microscopy was applied to help the interpretation and the diagnosis of equivocal pigmented lesions, also studied by the combination with  immunohistochemistry and genetic biomarkers profile . The acquired experience in the use and interpretation of confocal microscopy led to the systematic study of series of cases characterized by difficult dermoscopic aspects.. The possibility to identify cytological aspects specific for melanoma and to distinguish from benign melanocytic lesions  demonstrated the value of this technique in accurate melanoma diagnosis. 
. In this context, she actively contributed to the publication of more than 150  national and international index scientific works and contribute to more than 20 international project