Abstract
Background
Differential diagnosis of extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with dermoscopic reticular and/or homogeneous pattern is challenging. Dendritic cells upon reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) still represent a pitfall.
Objective
To determine the role of dendritic cells upon RCM in the epidermis and dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), together with common RCM features for melanoma and nevi, in dermoscopically equivocal extrafacial flat pigmented lesions.
Methods
A retrospective evaluation of RCM images of melanocytic extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with reticular and/or homogeneous dermoscopic pattern and with histopathological diagnosis, was performed. A multivariate model of RCM features was used to obtain a score of independent risk factors.
Results
A total of 698 lesions were included. Increasing patient age, epidermal dendritic cells, many dendritic cells in the DEJ (>30%), and many (>5/mm2) round atypical cells were independent risk factors for melanoma. Edged papillae and melanophages were indicative of nevus. A score based on these features was developed to assist in melanoma differential diagnosis.
Conclusion
The RCM observation of abundant (>30%) dendritic cells in the DEJ is highly suggestive of malignity. This independent risk factor should also be considered for improved differential diagnosis of extrafacial melanoma.
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