title: A validation study of scar vascularity and pigmentation assessment using dermoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascularity and pigmentation are two important indicators of the maturing status of hypertrophic scars. We used the dermoscope to measure vascularity and pigmentation of hypertrophic scars to examine its validity and reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subjects were assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), spectrocolorimeter and dermoscope. Correlations between the measurements by these tools and reliability parameters were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A strong correlation was found between the redness measured by spectrocolorimeter and the RGB redness values of dermoscope pictures (r=0.890). A correlation was found between the lightness measured by spectrocolorimeter and the lightness of dermoscope pictures (r=0.536), and between the lightness by spectrocolorimeter and the blanched dermoscope pictures (r=0.448). The calculated RGB values of redness of the dermoscope correlated with the VSS vascularity score (r=0.625); the transformed VSS pigmentation score correlated with the lightness of the blanched dermoscope pictures (r=0.783). The intra-class correlation coefficient (3, 1) of the dermoscope was 0.980 for the redness measurement and 0.965 for the lightness measurement, while the intra-class correlation coefficient (2, 2) was 0.930 for the dermoscope redness measurement and 0.871 for the dermoscope lightness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dermoscope is a promising objective tool for vascularity and pigmentation assessments of hypertrophic scars with good validity and reliability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yating
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. Electronic address: cecilia.li@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Cecilia W P
authors.initials: CWP
authors.lastname: Li-Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: David C K
authors.initials: DCK
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Walei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tor Wo
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dermoscope; Hypertrophic scars; Pigmentation; Vascularity