Clinical, histopathological, dermatoscopic and digital microscopic features of dermatofibroma: a retrospective analysis of 200 lesions.

BACKGROUND: Dermatology literature lacks a study investigating both histopathological and dermatoscopic features of dermatofibroma. OBJECTIVE: To analyse histopathological, dermatoscopic and digital microscopic features of dermatofibromas. METHODS: Two hundred dermatofibromas and 190 patients were included and retrospectively evaluated. Nine histopathological and ten dermatoscopic patterns were used to classify the lesions. We identified four different types of dermatofibroma in digital microscopy. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 42.18 ± 13.72 years. Dermatofibroma was more common in females (67%) and the male to female ratio was 1:1.97. The most common location was leg (41%). The most frequent histopathological variant was fibrocollagenous type (49%). Grenz zone was the most common histopathological finding (89%). The most frequent digital microscopic type was type 1 (63%). CONCLUSIONS: We found that palisading variant displayed only pattern 6 in dermatoscopy and cellular variant showed type 3 significantly in digital microscopy.

Prevalence of skin diseases in civilian and military population in a Turkish military hospital in the central Black Sea region.

OBJECTIVES: There are no epidemiological studies comparing the prevalence of skin diseases between civilian and military populations. We sought to determine and compare the prevalence of skin conditions between civilian and military populations. METHODS: A total of 3382 male patients (1148 military and 2234 civilian) were retrospectively and consecutively evaluated at Merzifon Military Hospital in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey. RESULTS: The most frequent dermatological condition was tinea pedis (15.8%) followed by acne vulgaris, allergic contact dermatitis and alopecia areata in the military population (15.7%, 7.7% and 5.4%, respectively). Acne vulgaris, xerosis cutis and allergic contact dermatitis were the most common diagnoses in the civilian group (19.4%, 14.1% and 9.1%, respectively). The prevalence of tinea pedis, alopecia areata, pityriasis versicolor, ingrown nail (unguis incarnatus) and callus were statistically significantly higher in the military group (15.8% vs 4.4%, p<0.001; 5.4% vs 1.7%, p<0.05; 3.5% vs 0.7%, p<0.001; 3.3% vs 0.3%, p<0.001 and 4.6% vs 0.9%, p<0.001; respectively). Xerosis cutis was found to be significantly higher in the civilian group (14.1% vs 5.8%, p<0.001). Superficial fungal disease was the most prevalent disorder as in the previous literature. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive measures should be taken to improve the health of troops and reduce the prevalence of the common disorders such as tinea pedis, alopecia areata and callus. Troops should wear boots only when necessary in base camps. Clothing which reduces ventilation is not recommended. Depression and anxiety should be recognised and treated in soldiers with alopecia areata, as a solely dermatological approach without psychological support may reduce treatment success.