title: Pigmented seborrheic keratoses of the vulva clinically mimicking a malignant melanoma: a clinical, dermoscopic-pathologic case study.
abstract: The diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis is, in general, a clinical one, but in some cases, the differential diagnosis between pigmented seborrheic keratosis and malignant melanoma is difficult. Dermoscopy may improve the early diagnosis of vulvar melanoma and thus play a role in the preoperative classification of pigmented lesions at this particular site. We report the first case of a pigmented seborrheic keratosis of the vulva clinically mimicking a malignant melanoma, whose dermoscopic features have been investigated together with their pathologic correlates. Dermoscopically our case shows the absence of comedo-like openings and the presence of the pseudo-network. Dermoscopy is therefore a useful method for the differential diagnosis of pigmented lesions even in the vulva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. vdegi@tin.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Giorgi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017492:Keratosis, Seborrheic / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*