title: Dermoscopic features of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have demonstrated that dermoscopy improves accuracy in diagnosing pigmented and non-pigmented tumors. Recently, there has been increasing evidence that dermoscopy can also be useful in the diagnosis of some skin infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to describe the dermoscopic features of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermoscopic examination (using the Derm Lite FOTO, 3Gen) of 144 CL lesions in 82 patients was performed. This study was conducted in the Imam Reza and Ghaem hospitals (Mashhad, Iran) from October 2010 to September 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed the following dermoscopic features: generalized erythema (81.9%), white starbursts (60.4%), yellow hue (43.8%), yellow teardrop-like structures (41.7%), central ulcers (59%), hyperkeratosis (33.3%), and milia-like cysts (4.9%). We also observed vascular structures, including dotted vessels (61.1%), hairpin vessels (37.5%), linear irregular vessels (30.6%), comma-shaped vessels (29.9%), glomerular vessels (22.9%), arborizing telangiectasia (10.4%), and corkscrew vessels (4.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biopsy and pathologic evaluation were not performed due to ethical considerations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Important vascular patterns seen in melanocytic and non-melanocytic tumors were frequently observed in this infection. Dermoscopy may be a promising tool to predict the clinical course in cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
authors: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Ahmad Reza
authors: AR
authors: Taheri
authors: Nasibeh
authors: N
authors: Pishgooei
authors: Masoud
authors: M
authors: Maleki
authors: Vahid Mashayekhi
authors: VM
authors: Goyonlo
authors: Bita
authors: B
authors: Kiafar
authors: Mahnaz
authors: M
authors: Banihashemi
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Khajedaluee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D046169:Dermoscopy; D004890:Erythema / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007642:Keratosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult