title: Preliminary evaluation of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy features of Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an unusual, clinically polymorphic, vascular neoplasm with genetic, infectious, environmental and immunological pathogenesis. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) made in vivo noninvasive imaging of the skin possible and has been used for the evaluation of several skin diseases offering important microscopic information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study is to describe the RCM features of KS and correlate them with histopathology evaluating the effective prediction attitude and repeatability of RCM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve KS lesions underwent RCM followed by histological examination. Data obtained were statistically correlated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of the incidence of 11 selected microscopic criteria (by RCM and optical histology: inflammatory cells in the epidermis and in the dermis, single or in aggregates; spindle cells; stroma; anastomosing, newborn, increased number and dilated vessels; extravasated erythrocytes; deposits of hemosiderin) was performed disclosing a good correlation and high sensitivity of RCM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study RCM seems to provide high accuracy to predict histological findings, demonstrating its possible role in the management of patients affected by KS.
authors.affiliation: San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Via Chianesi 53, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Thaís Corsetti
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Grazziotin
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Rosana Bortoli
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Buffon
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Araújo Pinto
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardigò
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*