Dermoscopy in the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma (Review)

Abstract

Cutaneous lymphomas are a group of rare and distinct diseases that present varying clinical manifestations, histopathology and prognosis. Optimal and early management relies on accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, clinical diagnosis in early stages is difficult due to the clinical overlap with other dermatologic conditions. In numerous cases, several consultations and multiple biopsies are required. Dermoscopy is frequently used for the evaluation of melanocytic skin tumors, but its value has been recognized for non-melanocytic neoplasms and inflammatory skin diseases, and in the last few years it has assisted with the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD). Studies have shown that dermoscopy may be useful in the evaluation of cutaneous lymphomas, offering a link between clinical and histopathological examination, but the features are not diagnostic and histopathological confirmation is mandatory. However, dermoscopy can raise suspicion of cancer, leading to a skin biopsy. Furthermore, larger and prospective studies are required to define the exact dermoscopic features of every subtype of cutaneous lymphoma.

A patient with multiple nodules and plaques on forehead, cheeks and chin

“…Cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL) accounts for around 75%–80% and Cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas (CBCL) represent about 20%–25% of all skin lymphomas. CBCL can be further classified into primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), primary cutaneous follicle‐center lymphoma (PCFCL) and primary cutaneous diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (PCLBCL) 2 . The three entities enumerated comprise 97% of cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas 3 .…”

“…CBCL can be further classified into primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), primary cutaneous follicle-center lymphoma (PCFCL) and primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PCLBCL). 2 The three entities enumerated comprise 97% of cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. 3 Asian studies usually show lower rates of CBCLs but higher rates of CTCLs compared with Western series.…”

Photodynamic Therapy as an Effective Treatment for Cutaneous Lymphomas

“…Clinically, MF typically presents with cutaneous erythematous patches, plaques, tumors, or erythroderma. Nevertheless, atypical variants of MF exist that vary considerably in their clinical and histological features and prognosis: folliculotropic, pagetoid reticulosis, granulomatous slack skin, bullous, hypopigmented, ichthyosiform, pigmented purpuric dermatosis-like, papular, poikilodermatous, psoriasiform, pustular, and verrucoid [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Consequently, the diagnosis of MF is often difficult and challenging: the differential diagnosis is wide, and the histological findings may be non-specific in the early stages.…”

Clinical techniques in veterinary dermatology: Dermoscopy

“…[19][20][21][22][23][24][25] In human medicine, many studies have been performed to evaluate key dermoscopic features of many diseases. 1,3,6,7,[26][27][28][29][30] Information available from the human literature could be extrapolated to the field of veterinary dermoscopy. Figure 6 shows examples of dermoscopic patterns identified in veterinary patients with neoplastic, inflammatory and noninflammatory dermatological disease.…”

“…The following diseases have been evaluated with dermoscopy: demodicosis, sarcoptic mange, dermatophytosis, pattern alopecia and alopecia areata 19–25 . In human medicine, many studies have been performed to evaluate key dermoscopic features of many diseases 1,3,6,7,26–30 . Information available from the human literature could be extrapolated to the field of veterinary dermoscopy.…”