ABSTRACT
BACKGROUNDS: Although easily diagnosed, molluscum contagiosum may present as a single lesion or as several small, inflamed lesions of difficult diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To describe the dermoscopic characteristics of molluscum contagiosum and to compare the findings from clinical examination and dermoscopy. METHODS: Histopathologically confirmed lesions were evaluated clinically and dermoscopically in 57 patients. RESULTS: At clinical examination and dermoscopy of 211 lesions, orifices were visualized in 50.24% and 96.68% of the lesions, and vessels in 6.16% and 89.10%, respectively. The vascular patterns found in the 188 lesions in which vessels were found at dermoscopy were the crown (72.34%), radial (54.25%) and punctiform patterns (20.21%). Half of the 188 lesions had a combination of vascular patterns, with the flower pattern (a new vascular pattern) being found in 19.68% of cases. More orifices and vessels were identified at dermoscopy than at clinical examination, including cases with inflammation or perilesional eczema and small lesions. Punctiform vessels were associated with inflammation, excoriation and perilesional eczema. CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy performed on molluscum contagiosum lesions proved superior to dermatological examination even in cases in which clinical diagnosis was difficult. The presence of orifices, vessels and specific vascular patterns aids diagnosis, including differential diagnosis with other types of skin lesion.
Subject(s)
Dermoscopy/methods , Molluscum Contagiosum/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Blood Vessels/pathology , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Skin/pathology , Young AdultABSTRACT
FUNDAMENTOS: Embora de fácil diagnóstico, o molusco contagioso pode apresentar-se como lesões inflamadas, únicas ou pequenas de difícil diagnóstico. OBJETIVO: Descrever características dermatoscópicas do molusco contagioso e comparar achados do exame clínico e dermatoscópico. MÉTODOS: Avaliou-se clínica e dermatoscopicamente lesões confirmadas pela histopatologia em 57 pacientes. RESULTADOS: Nos exames clínico e dermatoscópico de 211 lesões, foram visualizados orifícios em 50,24 por cento e 96,68 por cento das lesões e vasos em 6,16 por cento e 89,10 por cento delas, respectivamente. Os padrões vasculares encontrados em 188 lesões que apresentaram vasos à dermatoscopia foram coroa (72,34 por cento), radial (54,25 por cento) e puntiforme (20,21 por cento). Metade das 188 lesões apresentou padrão vascular combinado, sendo o padrão em flor (novo padrão vascular) responsável por 19,68 por cento. Foram identificados mais orifícios e vasos no exame dermatoscópico que no clínico, inclusive naquelas com inflamação, eczema perilesional e de tamanho pequeno. Vasos puntiformes relacionaram-se com inflamação, escoriação e eczema perilesional. CONCLUSÕES: A dermatoscopia das lesões de molusco mostrou-se superior ao exame dermatológico mesmo quando seu diagnóstico clínico torna-se difícil. A presença de orifícios, vasos e padrões vasculares específicos auxilia no seu diagnóstico e na diferenciação de outras lesões de pele.
BACKGROUNDS: Although easily diagnosed, molluscum contagiosum may present as a single lesion or as several small, inflamed lesions of difficult diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To describe the dermoscopic characteristics of molluscum contagiosum and to compare the findings from clinical examination and dermoscopy. METHODS: Histopathologically confirmed lesions were evaluated clinically and dermoscopically in 57 patients. RESULTS: At clinical examination and dermoscopy of 211 lesions, orifices were visualized in 50.24 percent and 96.68 percent of the lesions, and vessels in 6.16 percent and 89.10 percent, respectively. The vascular patterns found in the 188 lesions in which vessels were found at dermoscopy were the crown (72.34 percent), radial (54.25 percent) and punctiform patterns (20.21 percent). Half of the 188 lesions had a combination of vascular patterns, with the flower pattern (a new vascular pattern) being found in 19.68 percent of cases. More orifices and vessels were identified at dermoscopy than at clinical examination, including cases with inflammation or perilesional eczema and small lesions. Punctiform vessels were associated with inflammation, excoriation and perilesional eczema. CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy performed on molluscum contagiosum lesions proved superior to dermatological examination even in cases in which clinical diagnosis was difficult. The presence of orifices, vessels and specific vascular patterns aids diagnosis, including differential diagnosis with other types of skin lesion.