Abstract
Background: Vulvar melanosis is a benign pigmented lesion that may clinically mimic melanoma. Whereas the dermoscopic features of other pigmented skin lesions have been extensively described, little is known about vulvar melanosis. Observations: A retrospective dermoscopic study was conducted on 87 lesions with histopathologically proved melanosis. We describe and define, for the first time to our knowledge, a ringlike pattern, found in 28 of 87 melanotic lesions (32%), characterized by multiple round to oval structures, white to tan, with dark brown, well-defined regular borders. The structureless and globular-like patterns were observed in 18 of 87 lesions (21%), the parallel pattern in 15 (17%), and the cobblestone-like and reticularlike patterns in 4 (5%). A significant association was found between the distribution of multifocal lesions showing a ringlike vs a nonringlike pattern (82% vs 52%; P=.008), whereas a weak association was found between anatomical site and the different patterns (P=.55). The ringlike pattern was frequently combined with multifocality and simultaneous occurrence at the labia majora and the labia minora. Conclusion: Dermoscopy can be useful for the clinical detection of vulvar melanosis, and the ringlike pattern may represent a new dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of this lesion.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1030-1034 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Archives of Dermatology |
| Volume | 144 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
The ringlike pattern in vulvar melanosis : A new dermoscopic clue for diagnosis. / Ferrari, Angela; Buccini, Pierluigi; Covello, Renato; De Simone, Paola; Silipo, Vitaliano; Mariani, Giustino; Eibenschutz, Laura; Mariani, Luciano; Catricalà, Caterina.
In: Archives of Dermatology, Vol. 144, No. 8, 08.2008, p. 1030-1034.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The ringlike pattern in vulvar melanosis
T2 - A new dermoscopic clue for diagnosis
AU - Ferrari, Angela
AU - Buccini, Pierluigi
AU - Covello, Renato
AU - De Simone, Paola
AU - Silipo, Vitaliano
AU - Mariani, Giustino
AU - Eibenschutz, Laura
AU - Mariani, Luciano
AU - Catricalà, Caterina
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - Background: Vulvar melanosis is a benign pigmented lesion that may clinically mimic melanoma. Whereas the dermoscopic features of other pigmented skin lesions have been extensively described, little is known about vulvar melanosis. Observations: A retrospective dermoscopic study was conducted on 87 lesions with histopathologically proved melanosis. We describe and define, for the first time to our knowledge, a ringlike pattern, found in 28 of 87 melanotic lesions (32%), characterized by multiple round to oval structures, white to tan, with dark brown, well-defined regular borders. The structureless and globular-like patterns were observed in 18 of 87 lesions (21%), the parallel pattern in 15 (17%), and the cobblestone-like and reticularlike patterns in 4 (5%). A significant association was found between the distribution of multifocal lesions showing a ringlike vs a nonringlike pattern (82% vs 52%; P=.008), whereas a weak association was found between anatomical site and the different patterns (P=.55). The ringlike pattern was frequently combined with multifocality and simultaneous occurrence at the labia majora and the labia minora. Conclusion: Dermoscopy can be useful for the clinical detection of vulvar melanosis, and the ringlike pattern may represent a new dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of this lesion.
AB - Background: Vulvar melanosis is a benign pigmented lesion that may clinically mimic melanoma. Whereas the dermoscopic features of other pigmented skin lesions have been extensively described, little is known about vulvar melanosis. Observations: A retrospective dermoscopic study was conducted on 87 lesions with histopathologically proved melanosis. We describe and define, for the first time to our knowledge, a ringlike pattern, found in 28 of 87 melanotic lesions (32%), characterized by multiple round to oval structures, white to tan, with dark brown, well-defined regular borders. The structureless and globular-like patterns were observed in 18 of 87 lesions (21%), the parallel pattern in 15 (17%), and the cobblestone-like and reticularlike patterns in 4 (5%). A significant association was found between the distribution of multifocal lesions showing a ringlike vs a nonringlike pattern (82% vs 52%; P=.008), whereas a weak association was found between anatomical site and the different patterns (P=.55). The ringlike pattern was frequently combined with multifocality and simultaneous occurrence at the labia majora and the labia minora. Conclusion: Dermoscopy can be useful for the clinical detection of vulvar melanosis, and the ringlike pattern may represent a new dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of this lesion.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=49949094903&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=49949094903&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archderm.144.8.1030
DO - 10.1001/archderm.144.8.1030
M3 - Article
C2 - 18711077
AN - SCOPUS:49949094903
VL - 144
SP - 1030
EP - 1034
JO - Archives of Dermatology
JF - Archives of Dermatology
SN - 0003-987X
IS - 8
ER -