A Study of the Correlation between the Dermoscopic Features and Histologic Subtypes in Dermatofibroma

Hwang, Su Ran; Woo, Soo Han; Rhee, Chin Ho; Park, Jin; Yun, Seok Kweon; Kim, Han Uk; Roh, Si Gyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Dermoscopic features may be useful in verifying the clinical diagnosis and increasing the diagnostic accuracy of dermatofibroma. There have been no systematic analyses of the dermoscopic features of dermatofibroma in Koreans or studies regarding the correlation between dermoscopic features and histologic subtypes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the dermoscopic features of dermatofibroma in Koreans and to explore the relationship between the dermoscopic features and histologic subtypes of dermatofibroma.
METHODS
The study included 83 lesions from 61 patients with dermatofibroma. Dermoscopic examination was performed via hand-held polarized dermoscopy at 10x magnification. Images were documented using a digital camera with a 3-fold optical zoom.
RESULTS
The main dermoscopic structures were pigment network (63.9%), white scar-like patch (53.0%), and homogeneous area (50.6%). The frequency of homogeneous area (50.6%), scale (50.6%), ring-like structure (36.1%), exophytic papillary structure (7.2%), and telangiectasia (6.0%) was significantly higher, and globule-like structure (20.5%) and erythema (8.4%) was significantly lower in Koreans than in Caucasians (p<0.05). Eleven dermoscopic patterns including a peripheral delicate pigment network and central white scar-like patch (28.9%) and total delicate pigment network (15.7%) were observed and there was no significant difference compared to Caucasians. Seven histologic types were observed; however, the correlation between dermoscopic features and histologic subtypes was not significant.
CONCLUSION
The most common pattern of dermatofibroma was pigment network and central white scar-like patch in both Koreans and Caucasians. A correlation between dermoscopic features and histologic subtypes in dermatofibroma was not found. These results may be helpful in clinically diagnosing dermatofibroma, especially in Koreans.