title: Anal melanosis diagnosed by reflectance confocal microscopy.
abstract: Until now, in vivo reflectance-mode confocal microscopy (IVCM) has been applied only to pigmented lesions of the vulvar and oral mucosa, but not to anal mucosa lesions. We present the first case in which IVCM has been used to diagnose anal melanosis. Clinical and dermoscopic features were of concern while IVCM found the draped pattern already described for genital melanosis. IVCM adds information to the clinical and dermatoscopic examination and allows skin biopsies to be avoided. Further studies are needed to define the IVCM features of anal melanosis and to compare the performance of IVCM with the findings of histological examinations.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, University Hôpital of Saint Etienne, Saint Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cinotti
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chol
authors.forename: Jean Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perrot
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Labeille
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forest
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cambazard
mesh_terms: D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D046169:Dermoscopy; D006801:Humans; D000069416:Intravital Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: anus; confocal microscopy; dermatoscopy; melanosis; mucosa