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Results for “Dermoscopy”

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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Dermoscopy in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Gorlin-Goltz syndrome (GGS) is an autosomal dominant disorder mainly characterized by the presence of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCC), odontogenic keratocysts of the jaw, and volar pits. This syndrome is associated with a wide spectrum of developmental anomalies and neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: To describe dermoscopic characteristics of cutaneous GGS lesions performing histopathologic correlation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cutaneous lesions and tumors from five patients affected by GGS were included. Clinical and dermoscopy images were obtained and excision with ulterior histopathology performed in suspicious tumors. RESULTS: With dermoscopy, BCCs can be detected in early stages by the presence of blue-gray globules in lesions less than 3 mm in diameter. In larger lesions, arborizing telangiectasia may also be present. Acral pits that are often overlooked during physical examination have a characteristic dermoscopy with red globules that are mainly distributed in parallel lines inside flesh-colored, irregular-shaped, and slightly depressed lesions. Dermoscopy improves the visualization of these pits. CONCLUSION: Dermoscopy can help in the diagnosis of the GGS as well as in the management of affected patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Computer-aided dermoscopy for diagnosis of melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Computer-aided dermoscopy using artificial neural networks has been reported to be an accurate tool for the evaluation of pigmented skin lesions. We set out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a computer-aided dermoscopy system for diagnosis of melanoma in Iranian patients. METHODS: We studied 122 pigmented skin lesions which were referred for diagnostic evaluation or cosmetic reasons. Each lesion was examined by two clinicians with naked eyes and all of their clinical diagnostic considerations were recorded. The lesions were analyzed using a microDERM dermoscopy unit. The output value of the software for each lesion was a score between 0 and 10. All of the lesions were excised and examined histologically. RESULTS: Histopathological examination revealed melanoma in six lesions. Considering only the most likely clinical diagnosis, sensitivity and specificity of clinical examination for diagnosis of melanoma were 83% and 96%, respectively. Considering all clinical diagnostic considerations, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 89%. Choosing a cut-off point of 7.88 for dermoscopy score, the sensitivity and specificity of the score for diagnosis of melanoma were 83% and 96%, respectively. Setting the cut-off point at 7.34, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 90%. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of the dermoscopy system was at the level of clinical examination by dermatologists with naked eyes. This system may represent a useful tool for screening of melanoma, particularly at centers not experienced in the field of pigmented skin lesions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Dermoscopy improves accuracy of primary care physicians to triage lesions suggestive of skin cancer.

PURPOSE: Primary care physicians (PCPs) constitute an appropriate target for new interventions and educational campaigns designed to increase skin cancer screening and prevention. The aim of this randomized study was to determine whether the adjunct of dermoscopy to the standard clinical examination improves the accuracy of PCPs to triage lesions suggestive of skin cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PCPs in Barcelona, Spain, and Naples, Italy, were given a 1-day training course in skin cancer detection and dermoscopic evaluation, and were randomly assigned to the dermoscopy evaluation arm or naked-eye evaluation arm. During a 16-month period, 73 physicians evaluated 2,522 patients with skin lesions who attended their clinics and scored individual lesions as benign or suggestive of skin cancer. All patients were re-evaluated by expert dermatologists at clinics for pigmented lesions. Referral accuracy of both PCP groups was calculated by their scores, which were compared to those tabulated for dermatologists. RESULTS: Referral sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 54.1%, 71.3%, 11.3%, and 95.8%, respectively, in the naked-eye arm, and 79.2%, 71.8%, 16.1%, and 98.1%, respectively, in the dermoscopy arm. Significant differences were found in terms of sensitivity and negative predictive value (P = .002 and P = .004, respectively). Histopathologic examination of equivocal lesions revealed 23 malignant skin tumors missed by PCPs performing naked-eye observation and only six by PCPs using dermoscopy (P = .002). CONCLUSION: The use of dermoscopy improves the ability of PCPs to triage lesions suggestive of skin cancer without increasing the number of unnecessary expert consultations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

The role of pattern analysis and the ABCD rule of dermoscopy in the detection of histological atypia in melanocytic naevi.

BACKGROUND: Clinical features of melanocytic naevi correlate poorly with the presence, histopathologically, of architectural disorder and cytological atypia, making the detection of histological atypia by means of macroscopic appearance unreliable. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic effectiveness of dermoscopy in the non-invasive detection of histological atypia in naevi. METHODS: Observers blinded for histological diagnosis classified a series of 168 melanocytic naevi as common or atypical on the basis of their clinical features and on their dermoscopic profile. The diagnostic performance of both methods compared with the true (histopathological) diagnosis was assessed. RESULTS: Dermoscopy using pattern analysis showed better results than clinical examination in the non-invasive detection of naevi with architectural disorder with or without cytological atypia (diagnostic accuracy 45% vs. 28%). A statistically significant difference in the frequency of dermoscopic parameters between atypical and common naevi was found for atypical pigment network (39% vs. 17%, P = 0.001) and dermoscopic regression structures (13% vs. 2%, P = 0.008). Dermoscopic features, which best predicted histological atypia in naevi, were regression structures (white scar-like areas or peppering), irregular vascular pattern and grey-blue areas (positive predictive values 83%, 83% and 73%, respectively). In contrast, no statistically significant difference in the mean values of the ABCD score between common and atypical naevi was found. The best diagnostic performance of dermoscopy by means of the ABCD rule (cut-off point of 4.0 of total dermoscopy score) was not dissimilar to that of clinical diagnosis (diagnostic accuracy 30%). CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy by means of pattern analysis enhances the diagnostic accuracy of dermatologists in the prediction of histological atypia in melanocytic naevi as compared with clinical examination alone.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed2003

Pattern analysis, not simplified algorithms, is the most reliable method for teaching dermoscopy for melanoma diagnosis to residents in dermatology.

BACKGROUND: Simplified algorithms for dermoscopy in melanoma diagnosis were developed in order to facilitate the use of this technique by non-experts. However, little is known about their reliability compared with classic pattern analysis when taught to untrained observers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnostic performance of three different methods, i.e. classic pattern analysis and two of the most used algorithms (the ABCD rule of dermoscopy and the seven-point check-list) when used by newly trained residents in dermatology to diagnose melanocytic lesions. Methods Five residents in dermatology (University of Florence Medical School) were submitted to a teaching programme in dermoscopy based on both formal lessons and training and self-assessment using a newly developed, interactive CD-ROM on dermoscopy. The performance of the three diagnostic methods was analysed in a series of 200 clinically equivocal melanocytic lesions including 44 early melanomas (median thickness 0.30 mm; 25th-75th percentile 0.00-0.58 mm). RESULTS: Pattern analysis yielded the best mean diagnostic accuracy (68.7%), followed by the ABCD rule (56.1%) and the seven-point check-list (53.4%, P = 0.06). The best sensitivity was associated with the use of the seven-point check-list (91.9%), which, however, provided the worst specificity (35.2%) of the methods tested. The interobserver reproducibility, as shown by kappa statistics, was low for all the methods (range 0.27-0.33) and did not show any statistical difference among them. CONCLUSIONS: Pattern analysis, i.e. simultaneous assessment of the diagnostic value of all dermoscopy features shown by the lesion, proved to be the most reliable procedure for melanoma diagnosis to be taught to residents in dermatology.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Effect of lesion size on the diagnostic performance of dermoscopy in melanoma detection.

BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is able to correctly classify a higher number of melanomas than naked-eye examination. Little is known however about factors which may influence the diagnostic performance during practice. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of size of the lesion on diagnostic performance of dermoscopy in melanoma detection. METHODS: Eight dermatologists examined clinical and, separately, clinical and dermoscopic (combined examination) images of 200 melanocytic lesions previously excised [64 melanomas, 24 in situ and 40 invasive (median thickness 0.30 mm) and 136 melanocytic nevi]. After examination, diagnostic performance was analyzed in accordance with the major diameter of the lesions divided into 3 groups, i.e. small (less than 6 mm), intermediate (between 6 and 9 mm) and large (10 mm or more) lesions. These groups were shown to be highly comparable concerning the microstaging of melanomas (median thickness value 0.30, 0.22 and 0.32 mm, respectively). RESULTS: Dermoscopy increased the diagnostic performance of naked-eye examination of both intermediate and large lesions [sensitivity value: +19.3 (p = 0.002) and +10.3 (p = 0.007); diagnostic accuracy value: +7.4 (p = 0.004) and +6.1 (p = 0.07)]. On the contrary, no statistically significant increase was found dealing with small lesions (sensitivity +3.7, p = 0.66; diagnostic accuracy -1.7, p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic improvement associated with the addition of dermoscopy to naked-eye examination is influenced by the size of the lesion, i.e. it is lacking with lesions up to 6 mm in diameter. The optimized use of dermoscopy in melanoma detection is obtained dealing with melanocytic lesions 6 mm in diameter or larger.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Three-point checklist of dermoscopy: an open internet study.

BACKGROUND: In a pilot study, the three-point checklist of dermoscopy has been shown to represent a valid and reproducible tool with high sensitivity for the diagnosis of skin cancer in the hands of a small group of nonexperts. OBJECTIVES: To re-evaluate these preliminary results in a large number of observers independently from their profession and expertise in dermoscopy. METHODS: The study was conducted via the internet to provide worldwide access for participants. After a short web-based tutorial, the participants evaluated dermoscopic images of 165 (116 benign and 49 malignant) skin lesions (15 training and 150 test lesions). For each lesion participants scored the presence of the three-point checklist criteria (asymmetry, atypical network and blue-white structures). Kappa values, odds ratios, sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were estimated. RESULTS: Overall, 150 participants joined the study. The three-point checklist showed good interobserver reproducibility (kappa value: 0.53). Sensitivity for skin cancer (melanoma and basal cell carcinoma) was 91.0% and this value remained basically uninfluenced by the observers' professional profile. Only 20 participants lacking any experience in dermoscopy performed significantly more poorly, but the sensitivity was still remarkably high (86.7%) when considering that they were untrained novices in dermoscopy. The specificity was 71.9% and was significantly influenced by the profession, with dermatologists performing best. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the three-point checklist is a feasible, simple, accurate and reproducible skin cancer screening tool.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗

PubMed2026

Diagnostic Value and Limitations of Dermoscopy in Humans and Animals: A Critical Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is a noninvasive imaging technique that is well-established in human dermatology, where it enhances the diagnosis of neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, and alopecic skin disorders. In veterinary dermatology, its use is expanding yet remains heterogeneous and largely descriptive, despite growing evidence of conserved dermoscopic patterns across species. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To review the applications of dermoscopy in veterinary dermatology, and to provide a comparative analysis of dermoscopic features observed in dogs, cats, and horses in relation to corresponding findings in human dermatology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature reporting dermoscopic findings in veterinary dermatology was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched for studies published up to 30 July 2025. Eligible studies included original articles describing dermoscopic features in dogs, cats, or horses. Extracted data included species, dermatological condition, dermoscopic findings, device type and histopathological correlation, when available. Levels of evidence were assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine criteria. RESULTS: Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were descriptive case reports or case series. Dermoscopy was applied to a wide range of conditions, including alopecias, parasitic infestations, dermatophytosis, neoplastic and sebaceous lesions, inflammatory dermatoses, and congenital vascular anomalies. Recurrent dermoscopic features showed strong similarities to those described in human dermatology, although species-specific anatomical differences influenced interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy represents a valuable adjunct diagnostic tool in veterinary dermatology, with clear translational relevance. Standardisation of terminology and further prospective studies are required to support its broader clinical integration.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Limitations of dermoscopy in the recognition of melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare dermoscopic features of melanocytic nevi with those of early melanomas that were not excised initially because of their uncharacteristic clinical and dermoscopic appearance. DESIGN: Retrospective study of the baseline images of 325 melanocytic skin lesions that were observed by digital dermoscopy and finally excised because of changes over time. SETTING: A dermatologic clinic and a dermatologic department at a university hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of baseline images of melanomas and melanocytic nevi by pattern analysis, the ABCD rule of dermoscopy, and the 7-point checklist. RESULTS: Baseline dermoscopic images of 262 melanocytic nevi and 63 melanomas from 315 patients were included in the analysis. The patterns of dermoscopic features observed in the baseline images of melanocytic lesions finally diagnosed as melanomas during follow-up did not differ substantially from the patterns observed in the baseline images of melanocytic nevi. Pattern analysis, the ABCD rule of dermoscopy, and the 7-point checklist failed to achieve adequate diagnostic accuracy for melanoma. In retrospect, no dermoscopic feature or pattern of features could be identified that reliably differentiated between melanomas and melanocytic nevi at the time of the first presentation. CONCLUSION: Dermoscopy depends on the appearance of classic dermoscopic features and is therefore limited in the diagnosis of very early and mainly featureless melanomas.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed2006

Dermoscopy.

First, a brief introduction about types of dermoscope and an explanation on the theory of dermoscopy are provided. Second, some introduction on the difference of dermoscopic pictures between benign and malignant neoplasm is given. Basically, benign lesions tend to show symmetrical dermoscopic structures and colors, whereas malignant lesions have a tendency to present irregular and atypical dermoscopic structures. Third, the relationship between dermoscopic images and anatomical structures will be shown. Acral melanocytic lesions have site-specific dermoscopic patterns, namely parallel furrow pattern or parallel ridge pattern. These parallel patterns are due to different distribution of benign and malignant melanocytes. Benign melanocytes (nevus cells) are mainly found on the tips of crista profunda limitans and supply melanin granules to the furrows of stratum corneum, making a parallel furrow pattern. To the contrary, melanoma cells proliferate mainly on the tips of crista profunda intermedia or rather diffusely and randomly, and supply melanin granules irregularly and diffusely to the ridges of stratum corneum, having parallel ridge pattern. Fourth, the global features of dermoscopic findings are described respectively with definitions of the technical terms. To analyze dermoscopic structures, it is easier to look at global features first and local features next. Basic global features include reticular, globular, cobblestone, homogeneous, starburst and parallel patterns. If a given dermoscopy image has two patterns, the more prominent pattern might be chosen. If it has more than three dermoscopic patterns, then multi-component pattern is the reasonable selection. If there are no particular dermoscopic structures, then the unspecific pattern will be selected. Finally, some comments on the relationship between dermoscopy and dermatopathology are given briefly. It is always useful to imagine dermatopathological features when examining a dermoscopic image. There are considerable relations between dermoscopy and dermatopathology.

Dermoscopy↗

PubMed2005

Dermoscopy of skin lesions in two patients with xeroderma pigmentosum.

BACKGROUND: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare disorder produced by a genetic defect in the repair of DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. The early diagnosis of malignant skin tumours is crucial in the survival of patients with XP, but this is not easy even for experienced dermatologists due to the presence of a high number of actinic lesions. Dermoscopy is a new diagnostic method that increases the diagnostic accuracy for skin tumours. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and dermoscopic features of different benign and malignant lesions [focusing on malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and benign melanocytic naevi] in two patients with XP. METHODS: Three dermatologists with experience in pigmented skin lesions and dermoscopy examined two siblings with XP over a period of 54 months. Diagnosis of skin tumours was obtained using clinical examination and dermoscopy with 10-fold magnification and digital images. All the tumours with criteria of malignancy were excised for further histopathological analyses. RESULTS: Multiple skin tumours showing some degree of pigmentation were detected in the patients. Clinical and dermoscopic examination allowed the discrimination of four melanomas (three of them in situ), 26 BCCs and five dysplastic naevi from other pigmented skin lesions. The features and parameters previously described for dermoscopy were shown to be appropriate for the recognition of tumours in our patients with XP. Generalized actinic lentigos were distinguished from BCCs by the presence of a delicate brown pigmented network. Fine vessels from poikiloderma were differentiated from the arborizing telangiectasia of BCC. CONCLUSIONS: The dermoscopic findings in the tumours were similar to those previously described in patients not affected by XP. Diagnosis by dermoscopic pattern analyses allowed a correct classification of malignant tumours in these cases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Dermoscopy in black people.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the use of dermoscopy in nonwhite-skinned populations and whether it can influence diagnostic performance. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate for the first time the utility and efficacy of dermoscopy in a black population for the diagnosis of pigmented cutaneous lesions. METHODS: In total, 100 consecutive clinically doubtful or equivocal pigmented skin lesions in black patients were submitted to dermoscopic examination. The lesions were observed using dermoscopy by two groups of dermatologists, one in Brazil (in vivo) and the other in Italy (on slide images). Besides diagnosis, each group recorded on the same type of form the dermoscopic features present. RESULTS: Of 100 clinically suspicious cases, 79 were Clark naevi, 15 seborrhoeic keratoses, four blue naevi, one dermatofibroma and one melanoma. The two groups of observers succeeded in identifying and classifying all the lesions to such a margin of diagnostic accuracy that only a few cases (three Clark naevi) were subjected to surgical excision to confirm diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Darker pigmentation of the skin does not impede the identification of single dermoscopic features. As in lighter-skinned populations, dermoscopy in black people can also lead to early and accurate diagnosis of melanoma, thereby significantly reducing the number of unnecessary excisions.

Black People↗

PubMed2002

Dermoscopy: a review.

In this article, dermoscopy, an in vivo technique that allows the clinician to evaluate subsurface structures, is described. Dermoscopy is used in the evaluation of pigmented lesions of the skin and is a helpful tool in the differential diagnosis. This article discusses research on dermoscopy, as well as other imaging techniques including confocal microscopy, digital dermoscopy, and computer-assisted diagnosis.

Dermatology↗

PubMed2001

Dermoscopy of pigmented skin lesions--a valuable tool for early diagnosis of melanoma.

The clinical use of dermoscopy has uncovered a new and fascinating morphological dimension of pigmented skin lesions. Dermoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that links clinical dermatology and dermatopathology by enabling the visualisation of morphological features not seen by the naked eye. Close examination of pigmented skin lesions in this way increases the effectiveness of clinical diagnostic tools by providing new morphological criteria for distinguishing melanoma from other melanocytic and non-melanocytic pigmented skin lesions. In the past, dermoscopy has been known by various names, including skin surface microscopy, epiluminescence microscopy, incident light microscopy, dermatoscopy, and videodermatoscopy. However, the term 'dermoscopy', first used by Friedman and colleagues in 1991, is the most widely used.

Humans↗

PubMed2002

Dermoscopic diagnosis by a trained clinician vs. a clinician with minimal dermoscopy training vs. computer-aided diagnosis of 341 pigmented skin lesions: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years digital dermoscopy has been introduced as an additional tool to improve the clinical diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of digital dermoscopy by comparing the diagnoses of a dermatologist experienced in dermoscopy (5 years of experience) with those of a clinician with minimal training in this field, and then comparing these results with those obtained using computer-aided diagnoses. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-one pigmented melanocytic and non-melanocytic skin lesions were included. All lesions were surgically excised and histopathologically examined. Digital dermoscopic images of all lesions were framed and analysed using software based on a trained artificial neural network. Cohen's kappa statistic was calculated to assess the validity with regard to the correct diagnoses of melanoma and non-melanoma. RESULTS: Sensitivity was high for the experienced dermatologist and the computer (92%) and lower for the inexperienced clinician (69%). Specificity of the diagnosis by the experienced dermatologist was higher (99%) than that of the inexperienced clinician (94%) and the computer assessment (74%). Notably, computer analysis gave a higher number of false positives (26%) compared with the experienced dermatologist (0.6%) and the inexperienced clinician (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that analysis either by a trained dermatologist or an artificial neural network-trained computer can improve the diagnostic accuracy of melanoma compared with that of an inexperienced clinician and that the computer diagnosis might represent a useful tool for the screening of melanoma, particularly at centres not experienced in dermoscopy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Giant melanoma displaying gross features reproducing parameters seen on dermoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The basis of dermoscopy is the strict relationship between dermoscopic features and histology of pigmented skin lesions. METHODS: When observed under dermoscopy, a pigmented lesion displays a series of features which enable an experienced clinician to classify the lesion with higher accuracy than that expected by visual inspection alone. RESULTS: We have observed a peculiar case of a giant cutaneous melanoma occurring on the abdomen of a 45-year-old woman, displaying clinical features strictly resembling those of melanoma under dermoscopy. DISCUSSION: The interest of this case is actually purely morphologic, showing for the first time, depending on the extraordinary growth of the lesion, the appearance of gross features strictly reproducing those microscopically found under dermoscopy in smaller lesions.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of digital dermoscopy for the follow-up of congenital nevi: a pilot study.

One of the main problems in the management of congenital nevi is the potential risk for malignant transformation and the resulting need for follow-up examination. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique that has been shown to be useful for the follow-up of benign melanocytic skin lesions as well as the early diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Therefore we thought to use the digital dermoscopy (DD) technique for the follow-up of congenital nevi. For documentation purposes we registered an overview, and the following standardized dermoscopic images of every lesion: representative architectural pattern, border of the lesion, and regions of "special interest." In all instances the examination with digital dermoscopy was well tolerated by the patients and the integration of the parents to the "live" examination on the computer screen was appreciated. The follow-up was easy to perform with these standardized documents. We showed the feasibility of follow-up of congenital nevi using digital dermoscopy. Furthermore, we identified three different patterns as well as some typical structures seen in congenital nevi by DD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Diagnostic significance of the blue hue in dermoscopy of melanocytic lesions: a dermoscopic-pathologic study.

In epiluminescence microscopy, the perception of a blue hue is generally considered a clue to malignancy, especially in clinically equivocal melanocytic skin lesions. However, melanocytic nevi can seldom show a blue hue under dermoscopy. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the histopathologic correlates of the blue hue seen in dermoscopy, to clarify its significance and diagnostic value. From a series of 224 consecutive pigmented skin lesions submitted to surgical excision, we selected all the melanocytic skin lesions (n. 36), blue nevi excluded, characterized by the presence of a blue hue dermoscopically. In agreement with recent refinement of dermoscopic semeiology, all cases were further classified in cases showing blue areas and cases showing blue-whitish veil by experts observers blinded to the final diagnosis. Histopathologically, the series included 23 (63.9%) melanocytic nevi and 13 (36.1%) melanomas. For each lesion, several histopathologic parameters related to both epidermal and dermal alterations were assessed. Blue areas were found in 21 melanocytic nevi and 7 melanomas, whereas blue-whitish veil was found in 6 melanomas and 2 nevi. Careful dermoscopic-histopathologic correlation demonstrated that blue areas are related to the presence of large amounts of melanin pigment, either within melanophages (in the context of areas of regression) or within pigmented melanocytes in the superficial dermis. Conversely, the histopathologic correlate of the blue-whitish veil resulted in the presence of an acanthotic epidermis with compact orthokeratosis overlying large amounts of melanin in the dermis. Such melanin was found not only within melanocytes but also in large clusters of melanophages within areas of regression in the dermis. In conclusion, the majority of melanocytic lesions characterized by the presence of blue areas were histopathologically diagnosed as melanocytic nevi whereas the presence of blue-whitish veil was highly indicative of malignant melanoma diagnosis (specificity 91% vs. 9% of blue areas; sensitivity 75% vs. 25% of blue areas). Thus, these two features of blue hue under dermoscopy cannot be longer considered as synonymous in dermoscopy setting, being associated with different histopathologic alterations and different diagnostic information.

Adult↗