Dermoscopy of genital diseases: a review

Abstract

The male and female external genital regions are anatomical areas in which various types of skin disorders may occur. Although most of these conditions can be diagnosed by means of clinical examination and an accurate medical history, in most cases further investigations with time-consuming and/or invasive procedures are needed in order to reach the correct diagnosis. Dermoscopy, as a modern non-invasive tool, is able to better diagnose pigmented and non-pigmented skin tumours along with various inflammatory and infectious skin and appendage disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide a review of the use of dermoscopy in genital disorders based on published data and to include personal experience gained from real life, focusing on any possible gender difference and whether disease mucosal/ semimucosal dermoscopy features may differ from those observed on the skin. In conclusion, genital dermoscopy should always be considered during clinical inspection in order to enhance the diagnosis or to rule out those conditions that may look similar but that show a different dermoscopy pattern, thus narrowing down the differential diagnoses and avoiding unnecessary invasive investigations.

Bowen’s disease of the penile shaft presenting as a pigmented macule: dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy and histopathological correlation

“…The dermoscopic features of penile pigmented Bowen’s disease have been reported to be similar to those observed outside the genital area: irregular brownish pigmentation, structureless areas (blue/black, hypopigmented, pink-grey, or skin-colored), and brown-grey dots/globules. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 Glomerular vessels may also be observed. Dermoscopy may help in the differential diagnosis with other lesions that may simulate pigmented Bowen’s disease such as melanosis, flat seborrheic keratosis, and superficial basal cell carcinoma, but it cannot always rule out melanoma as it may share similar features.…”

Pigmentary complications after non-medical male circumcision

“…It may be associated with or without melanocytic hyperplasia. Some patients with penile melanosis have local irritation, and injuries occur with circumcision or diabetes mellitus [ 21 ]. Post MC pigmentary complications can be differentiated from cases of fixed drug eruption, which may occur 1–2 weeks after initial exposure to oral medication.…”

Pigmentary Complications after Non-Medical Male Circumcision

“…It may be associated with or without melanocytic hyperplasia. Some patients with penile melanosis are associated with local irritation, the injuries as occurred with circumcision, or diabetes mellitus 21 . Post MC pigmentary complications can be differentiated from cases of xed drug eruption, which may occur 1 to 2 weeks after initial exposure to oral medication.…”