Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: Characteristic Vascular Structures Visualized by Using Dermoscopy.
- Author:
Min Gun YOO
1
;
Il Hwan KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Blood vessels; Dermoscopy; Hypertrophic scar (hypertrophic cicatrix); Keloid
- MeSH: Blood Vessels; Cicatrix; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic*; Dermoscopy*; Humans; Keloid*
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2014;26(5):603-609
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Keloids and hypertrophic scars represent excessive scarring. They require different therapeutic approaches, which can be hampered because of an apparent lack of morphologic difference between the two diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical and dermoscopic features of keloids and hypertrophic scars in order to help dermatologists distinguish these lesions better. METHODS: A total of 41 keloids and hypertrophic scars in 41 patients were examined clinically and by performing dermoscopy with a digital imaging system. Lesions were evaluated for vascular structures. RESULTS: Dermoscopy revealed vascular structures in most keloid lesions (90%) but in only 27% of hypertrophic scar lesions. The most common dermoscopic vascular structures in keloids were arborizing (52%), followed by linear irregular (33%) and commashaped (15%); these features were present but less evident in hypertrophic scars (9% for all types). The distribution frequency of the vascular structures differed significantly between diseases (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A strong association of vascular structures with keloids was observed on dermoscopic examination. The results suggest dermoscopic examination of vascular structures is a clinically useful diagnostic tool for differentiating between keloids and hypertrophic scars.
