BACKGROUND: Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare variant of cutaneous melanoma. Its diagnosis is often delayed by an unusual clinical presentation. The dermoscopic features of DM have not yet been described. OBJECTIVE: To define the dermoscopic features of DM. Patients and methods A single-institution register-based retrospective study of six cases of histology-proven desmoplastic melanoma for which dermoscopy data were available. The criteria we studied included: network, dots and globules, streaks, regression features, ulceration, number of colours, blue/white veil, and vascular pattern. RESULTS: Only three cases exhibited one classical feature for a melanocytic lesion; other cases were recognized on the basis of the presence of figures of regression (all six), i.e. white scar-like areas and 'peppering' (three of six), multiple (> 4) colours (five of six), and of melanoma-related vascular patterns (five) such as linear-irregular vessels (four) and milky-red areas (two). DISCUSSION: We believe that dermoscopy could help in the accurate diagnosis of this rare neoplasm. In the absence of a pigmented network, attention should be given to the identification of features of regression and to melanoma-associated vascular patterns.
BACKGROUND:Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare variant of cutaneous melanoma. Its diagnosis is often delayed by an unusual clinical presentation. The dermoscopic features of DM have not yet been described. OBJECTIVE: To define the dermoscopic features of DM. Patients and methods A single-institution register-based retrospective study of six cases of histology-proven desmoplastic melanoma for which dermoscopy data were available. The criteria we studied included: network, dots and globules, streaks, regression features, ulceration, number of colours, blue/white veil, and vascular pattern. RESULTS: Only three cases exhibited one classical feature for a melanocytic lesion; other cases were recognized on the basis of the presence of figures of regression (all six), i.e. white scar-like areas and 'peppering' (three of six), multiple (> 4) colours (five of six), and of melanoma-related vascular patterns (five) such as linear-irregular vessels (four) and milky-red areas (two). DISCUSSION: We believe that dermoscopy could help in the accurate diagnosis of this rare neoplasm. In the absence of a pigmented network, attention should be given to the identification of features of regression and to melanoma-associated vascular patterns.
Authors: William V Stoecker; Mark Wronkiewiecz; Raeed Chowdhury; R Joe Stanley; Jin Xu; Austin Bangert; Bijaya Shrestha; David A Calcara; Harold S Rabinovitz; Margaret Oliviero; Fatimah Ahmed; Lindall A Perry; Rhett Drugge Journal: Comput Med Imaging Graph Date: 2010-10-30 Impact factor: 4.790
Authors: Lucy L Chen; Natalia Jaimes; Christopher A Barker; Klaus J Busam; Ashfaq A Marghoob Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2012-12-23 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Cesar de Souza Bastos Junior; Juan Manuel Piñeiro-Maceira; Fernando Manuel Belles de Moraes Journal: An Bras Dermatol Date: 2013 May-Jun Impact factor: 1.896