title: Dermoscopic evaluation of skin in healthy cats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermoscopy is a diagnostic tool that can reveal morphological structures not visible upon clinical examination.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the usefulness and applicability of dermoscopy for the examination of healthy cat skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one domestic short-haired cats from a feline rescue association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four regions (head, dorsal neck, sacral and abdominal regions) were examined with both a contact hand-held nonpolarized light dermoscope at 10-fold magnification and a videodermoscope at 70-fold magnification. Findings were assessed using histological analysis of skin samples cut both longitudinally and transversely, set as the gold standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a hand-held dermoscope at 10-fold magnification, thick, straight primary hairs surrounded by multiple secondary hairs were observed. With a videodermoscope at 70-fold magnification, hair shaft thickness was measured and the follicular openings and arrangement of vessels were clearly observed. Correspondence was observed between dermoscopic and histological results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermoscopy represents a valid noninvasive and reproducible technique that could be helpful in clinical examination.
authors.affiliation: Studio Dermatologico Veterinario, Via G. Sismondi 62, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanna
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Auriemma
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arrighi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attanasi
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Fabia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarampella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*