title: Usefulness of confocal microscopy in distinguishing between basal cell carcinoma and intradermal melanocytic nevus on the face.
abstract: The clinical distinction between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and intradermal melanocytic nevus lesions on the face can be difficult, particularly in young patients or patients with multiple nevi. Dermoscopy is a useful tool for analyzing characteristic dermoscopic features of BCC, such as cartwheel structures, maple leaf-like areas, blue-gray nests and dots, and ulceration. It also reveals arborizing telangiectatic vessels and prominent curved vessels, which are typical of BCC, and comma vessels, which are typical of intradermal melanocytic nevi. It is, however, not always easy to distinguish between these 2 conditions, even when dermoscopy is used. We describe 2 facial lesions that posed a clinical and dermoscopic challenge in two 38-year-old patients; confocal microscopy showed separation between tumor nests and stroma and polarized nuclei, which are confocal microscopy features of basal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: reyesgamo2000@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gamo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Floristan
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pampín
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinedo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: López-Estebaranz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000069549:Ustekinumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069549:Ustekinumab
keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Confocal microscopy; Dermatoscopia; Dermoscopy; Epitelioma basocelular; Intradermal nevus; Microscopia confocal; Nevus intradérmico