Clinical, pathological and dermatoscopic correlation of common papulosquamous dermatosis in skin of color

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this study is to assess different dermatoscopic features of common papulosquamous dermatosis including psoriasis, lichen planus, eczema, pityriasis rosea of skin in Fitzpatrick phototype IV and above and to correlate dermatoscopic features with histopathology. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Dermatology Department PNS Shifa hospital, Karachi for a period of 1 year from September 2021 to September 2022. A total of 235 patients of psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus and pityriasis rosea confirmed with histopathological diagnosis, were enrolled in the study via nonprobability sampling technique. Dermatoscopy was carried out using handheld dermatoscope (HEINE DELTA 20T) on 10x magnification. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results: Among total of 235 patients, significant dermatoscopic diagnosis was observed as 71 (88.7%) of psoriasis patients, 69 (92%) in eczematous dermatitis, 44 (88%) in lichen planus and 25(83.3%) in pityriasis rosea patients. Conclusion: Dermatoscope proved to play a significant role in diagnosing common inflammatory papulosquamous dermatosis like psoriasis, lichen planus, eczema and pityriasis rosea, to rule out similar differential diagnosis which can mimics these conditions and to evade the need of invasive procedure i.e., Histopathology, for making a definitive diagnosis.