Vascular patterns of nonpigmented tumoral skin lesions: confocal perspectives

• Published in: Skin research and technology 2015-08, Vol.21 (3), p.333-339
• Main Authors: Incel, P., Gurel, M. S., Erdemir, A. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dermoscopy - methods; Female; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Male; Microscopy, Confocal - methods; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic - classification; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; nonpigmented tumor; Observer Variation; Pigmentation Disorders - pathology; reflectance confocal microscopy; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; skin neoplasm; Skin Neoplasms - classification; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; vascular morphology; vascularity; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0909-752X; 1600-0846
• DOI: 10.1111/srt.12197

Background The characteristic vascular patterns of nonpigmented skin tumors have been established by dermoscopy. Recently, in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has become an established method for the noninvasive examination of skin tumors. Objectives Determination of the value of RCM on the vascularity of nonpigmented skin tumors. Methods One hundred and twenty two tumoral lesions have been evaluated by RCM in terms of their vascular structures. They were classified in five groups as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), seborrheic keratosis (SK), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)/keratoacanthoma, actinic keratosis (AK)/Bowen disease and others. Vascular morphologies were investigated as curved linear, straight linear, branching, tubular/canalicular, round and polymorphic vessels in six types. Limitations Relatively, small number of patients with some tumor subgroups is limitation. Larger prospective studies are required before firm conclusions can be drawn. Results Excellent compliance was obtained in interobserver analysis. Branching vessels had a high predictive value for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) with RCM (P