title: Applicability of dermoscopy for evaluation of patients' response to nonablative therapies for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Applicability of dermoscopy in evaluation of outcome and monitoring of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) after nonablative therapies has not been sufficiently assessed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Certain dermoscopic criteria, namely pigmented structures, ulceration and arborizing vessels, have been suggested to predict the presence of residual disease [residual disease-associated dermoscopic criteria (RDADC)]. We aimed to assess this hypothesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lesions exhibiting RDADC 3 months after treatment were biopsied and in the case of histopathological confirmation were excised. Lesions characterized by white/red structureless areas, superficial fine telangiectasias, or lacking any dermoscopic criterion, were monitored for 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 3-month evaluation, one or more of the RDADC were detected in 25/98 (25·5%) sBCCs, in which histology confirmed tumour persistence. In 45 (61·6%) of the 73 remaining lesions, dermoscopy showed white/red structureless areas and/or superficial fine telangiectasias. Twenty-eight lacked any dermoscopic criterion of sBCC. The two latter groups entered follow-up. In total, disease recurred in 13 (17·8%) of the 73 lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RDADC accurately predict residual disease. Absence of dermoscopic criteria of sBCC safely predicts complete histopathological clearance. Detection of white/red structureless areas and/or superficial fine telangiectasias warrants close monitoring to recognize early recurrence.
authors.affiliation: State Clinic of Dermatology, Hospital of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Apalla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lallas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tzellos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sidiropoulos
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lefaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trakatelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sotiriou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lazaridou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evangelou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsatsi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyrgidis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stratigos
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalaudek
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ioannides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D000077271:Imiquimod