Dermoscopic Findings of Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinomas in Koreans.
- Author:
Seung Wook JWA
1
;
Moon Bum KIM
;
Hyun Chang KO
;
Byung Soo KIM
;
Sung Jun KIM
;
Chang Keun OH
;
Kyung Sool KWON
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. drkmp@daum.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dermoscopy;
Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
- MeSH:
Acer;
Carcinoma, Basal Cell*;
Dermoscopy;
Diagnosis;
Humans;
Melanoma;
Pigmentation;
Skin;
Telangiectasis;
Ulcer
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2007;45(7):659-665
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Pigmented basal cell carcinomas (PBCC) may be confused with melanoma and other benign pigmented skin lesions. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique that is known to increase the diagnostic accuracy of benign versus malignant pigmented skin lesions. Menzies et al recently proposed a simple dermoscopic model for the diagnosis of PBCCs. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate whether this criteria was adequate for Korean PBCC patients and seek other characteristic dermoscopic findings in Korean PBCCs. METHODS: Dermoscopic images of 50 biopsy-proven PBCCs were examined. RESULTS: Negative features such as a pigment network were not observed in all PBCCs. Positive features-ulceration, large blue-gray ovoid nests, multiple blue-gray globules, maple leaf-like areas, spoke wheel areas and arborizing (treelike) telangiectasia were present in 39 (78.0%), 41 (82.0%), 33 (66.0%), 21 (42.0%), 1 (2.0%) and 32 (64.0%) of 50 PBCCs respectively. All PBCCs satisfied the dermoscopic criteria for diagnosis of PBCC suggested by Menzies et al. Other dermoscopic features were as follows; multiple blue-gray dots (28.0%), milia-like cysts (8.0%), granules (6.0%), diffuse blue-white area (6.0%) and hairpin vessels (2%). Forty-four % of lesions had less than 50% pigmentation of the area and 38.0% of lesions had more than 75% pigmentation. CONCLUSION: The criteria of PBCC proposed by Menzies et al was useful for dermoscopic diagnosis of Korean PBCCs. Ulceration and pigmentary features such as large blue-gray ovoid nests, multiple blue-gray globules, maple leaf-like areas, multiple blue-gray dots, granules and larger pigmented areas were more frequently observed in Korean PBCCs. However, other specific dermoscopic findings for diagnosis of PBCC in Koreans were not present.
