title: Reflectance confocal microscopy features of seborrheic dermatitis for plaque psoriasis differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plaque psoriasis (PP) and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) are chronic inflammatory skin diseases with similar clinical and pathological features. Differential diagnosis can be difficult, especially when particular skin areas of the face are involved. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been demonstrated to be useful for 'real-time' diagnosis of skin inflammatory diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define distinctive confocal criteria of SD and to evaluate the usefulness of this technique for noninvasive differential diagnosis with PP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 patients affected by PP and 19 patients by SD involving the face were recruited and subjected to RCM evaluation. Univariate and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Discriminant functions were used to plot ROC curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results disclosed specific patterns for SD and PP. The following distinctive confocal features for SD have been identified: spongiosis, dermal inflammation and horizontal orientation of dilated blood vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SD has a specific and easily recognizable confocal pattern supporting clinical differentiation with PP.
authors.affiliation: San Gallicano Dermatological Institute - IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agozzino
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berardesca
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donadio
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Catia Margarete
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: de Felice
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavallotti
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sperduti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardigò
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index