Under your skin: The Brussels dermatology clinic on a mission to detect melanomas with cutting-edge Vectra machine

I’m down to my underwear and standing in the middle of a shiny white high-tech machine as cameras simultaneously scan every surface of my skin.

The imaging of each single mole is over in a flash. I join dermatologist Dr Carmen Orte Cano as she casts her expert eye over a single 3D picture of my body. Thanks to the state-of-the-art Vectra machine, the microscopic structure of every blemish on my skin is monitored to pinpoint any suspicious lesions.

As she zooms in on a couple of moles with a hand-held magnifying dermatoscope, the doctor at the Dermatology & Research Institute in Brussels explains how the €500,000 Vectra machine (pictured above) has transformed her consultations.

“It is all about quality of care for me. I can compare the images with previous scans to make sure the moles did not change and spend more time talking to my patient and examining them correctly,” she says.

After conducting a skin test on one multi-coloured mole on my lower back, she recommends surgical removal. “When you are not 100% sure something is benign, you have to excise it, it’s how we proceed in dermatology.”

All tissue removed is automatically tested for melanoma. In the rare event of a positive result, additional examinations are scheduled and if necessary a larger amount of tissue can be taken.

But over excision is also avoided. “It really depends on the age of the patient and where on the body the mole is located.” Patients keen to avoid a scar, particularly in more visible areas of their body, are offered additional tests and non-invasive procedures. “We can go the extra mile and check it further with other tests,” she adds reassuringly.

Growing incidence of skin cancer in Belgium

Despite Belgium not being blessed with the sunniest of climates, more than 50,000 cases of skin cancer are being diagnosed each year, making it the country’s fast growing cancer.

Non-melanoma skin cancers are primarily basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are extremely frequent but rarely lethal, points out Dr Orte Cano. “However, as they usually occur in sun exposed areas such as the face, they often require excision to ensure complete removal.” Older people with fair skin and a lifetime of ultraviolet exposure are more prone to this type of skin cancer.

By contrast, melanoma is more aggressive and potentially fatal, which is why early detection is crucial. More than 70% of melanomas of cases are due to ultraviolet radiation. “It is thought that severe sunburn is responsible, especially during childhood and adolescence,” she says. 

That’s why it is so important to protect children from the sun. UV blocking clothing, a hat that covers the neck and ears and ideally SPF50 suntan cream applied to non-covered areas are all strongly recommended.

Everyone should use sun protection cream - applied every two hours - especially if they are spending time outdoors, and even when the weather is cloudy. Ultraviolet sources such as indoor tanning cabins only increase the risk of all types of skin cancer, reminds Dr Orte Cano.

Unless a close family member suffers from melanoma, it is not necessary to have a consultation with a dermatologist until around the age of 20, she says. Although incidents of skin cancer are rising, the mortality rate remains stable. “When diagnosing a cancer early, the prognostic is very good, especially when the melanoma is small.”

Clinic’s academic research

Dr Orte Cano, along with her other colleagues at the private clinic in Uccle, combines her consultations with academic research at Erasmus Brussels University, where she is studying for a PhD.

The Dermatology & Research Institute, which opened at the beginning of 2025, is partnered with the Pedro Jaén Group. Founded more than three decades ago, it trains clinical and aesthetic dermatologists, as well as providing complete skin care.

Leading the new clinic is Professor Ievgenia Pastushenko (pictured above), who explains its philosophy of combining the stimulation of academic research with the comfortable setting of a private clinic. “The idea of this project is to bring together the best parts of an academic setting with an access to technology,” she says. The investment in the world-leading Vectra machine is thanks to the collaboration with the Spanish facility.

The doctors in Brussels will shortly be launching a clinical trial, the first in a private setting. “We position ourselves as experts in cancer research.” One of the specificities of the clinic is that its team specialises in different areas, such as cancer or inflammatory disorders like psoriasis.

While dermatologists are increasingly in demand for aesthetic treatments, the clinic prefers a more natural approach and prides itself on offering a more personalised service. People often feel more comfortable being seen by a doctor and we offer Botox, fillers, peelings and different types of laser treatments, says Dr Pastushenko. “I’m a defender of more natural aesthetic medicine. If a patient asks me for something that I don’t think will be good, I will not do it.”

As for that two-toned mole unknowingly located on my back, it was removed one week later and the results of the biopsy will be communicated in a coupe of weeks. There’s little chance of it being malignant, but it is reassuring knowing that it is no longer there!

Photos: ©Dermatology & Research Institute