title: Prevalence of hypopigmented macules in a healthy population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although hypopigmented macules are an important manifestation of tuberous sclerosis (TS), the probability of TS in healthy individuals who have hypopigmented macules is unknown. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of hypopigmented macules among a cross section of the general white population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The skin of 423 white individuals younger than 45 years of age was screened for hypopigmented macules with ambient incandescent and fluorescent light and a Wood lamp. Indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed in patients with unexplained hypopigmentation to screen for retinal manifestations of TS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty individuals (4.7%) had at least one hypopigmented macule. Of these, four had more than one macule. None had more than three. Two (8%) of the 25 hypopigmented macules were identified only with a Wood lamp. Indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed in 13 (65%) of these 20 individuals. None showed the retinal findings of TS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of hypopigmented macules in the general population has been underestimated. The presence of a few hypopigmented macules on the skin of an otherwise healthy individual without a family history of TS need not prompt an evaluation to rule out this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Dermatology), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Vanderhooft
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pagon
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Sybert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*