Accuracy of dermoscopic criteria for the diagnosis of psoriasis, dermatitis, lichen planus and pityriasis rosea

Abstract

Background: Dermoscopy is useful in evaluating skin tumours, but its applicability extends also to the field of inflammatory skin disorders. Plaque psoriasis (PP), dermatitis, lichen planus (LP) and pityriasis rosea (PR) are common inflammatory skin diseases, but little is currently known about their dermoscopic features.

Objectives: To determine and compare the dermoscopic patterns associated with PP, dermatitis, LP and PR and to assess the validity of certain dermoscopic criteria in the diagnosis of PP.

Methods: Patients with PP, dermatitis, LP and PR were prospectively enrolled. The single most recently developed lesion was examined dermoscopically and histopathologically. Variables included vascular morphology, vascular arrangement, background colour, scale colour, scale distribution and presence of Wickham striae. Univariate and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Discriminant functions were used to plot receiver-operator characteristic curves.

Results: Eighty-three patients with PP and 86 patients with either dermatitis, LP or PR were included in the study. Dotted vessels in a regular arrangement over a light red background and white scales were highly predictive for the diagnosis of PP, whereas dermatitis more commonly showed yellow scales and dotted vessels in a patchy arrangement. PR was characterized by yellowish background, dotted vessels and peripheral scales; whitish lines (Wickham striae) were seen exclusively in LP.

Conclusions: PP, LP, PR and dermatitis show specific dermoscopic patterns that may aid their clinical diagnosis. Certain combinations of dermoscopic features can reliably predict the diagnosis of PP.