title: Dermoscopy of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a study of 15 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumour of which diagnosis is often delayed because of the lack of early clinical clues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the main dermoscopic features of DFSP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed dermoscopic examination in 15 unselected, consecutive cases of biopsy-proven DFSP. Firstly, six dermoscopic features were identified collegially, then all cases were reviewed separately by six experienced dermoscopists. In a given lesion, features recognized only by all dermoscopists were taken into account.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of dermoscopic features was four per lesion. The following dermoscopic features were found: delicate pigmented network (87%), vessels (80%), structureless light brown areas (73%), shiny white streaks (67%), pink background coloration (67%) and structureless hypo- or depigmented areas (60%). When detected, vessels were of arborizing type in 11 of 12 cases, and presented as either unfocused only, or both unfocused and focused.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first study of the dermoscopic spectrum of DFSP identifies six dermoscopic features (often associated in a multicomponent pattern) and a peculiar vascular pattern. Whether dermoscopy can help to identify suspected DFSP remains to be established by further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Lyon 1 University, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495, Pierre Bénite CEDEX, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poulalhon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Debarbieux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalle
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*