title: Trichoblastoma: is a clinical or dermoscopic diagnosis possible?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trichoblastoma is a rare benign skin tumour that must be differentiated from basal cell carcinoma for its benign course and favourable outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical and dermoscopic features of solitary primitive trichoblastoma and to compare them with trichoblastic basal cell carcinoma (tBCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Digital dermoscopic images of 19 trichoblastoma and 19 tBCC were compared and reviewed by a dermatologist experienced in dermoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most striking dermoscopic difference between trichoblastoma and tBCC was the presence of blue-grey globules and blue-grey ovoid nests that were found to be more frequent but not exclusive of tBCC. Arborizing vessels were found both in trichoblastoma and tBCC, with a lower frequency in the latter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histology remains the gold standard to differentiate trichoblastoma from tBCC.
authors.affiliation: I.R.C.C.S. A.O.U. San Martino-IST, Di.S.Sal, Sezione di Dermatologia, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. g.ghigliotti@libero.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghigliotti
authors.affiliation: I.R.C.C.S. A.O.U. San Martino-IST, Di.S.Sal, Sezione di Dermatologia, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Col
authors.affiliation: I.R.C.C.S. A.O.U. San Martino-IST, Di.S.Sal, Sezione di Dermatologia, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombonato
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
mesh_terms: D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology