Reflectance Confocal Microscopy in Lentigo Maligna.
Lentigo maligna is the most common type of facial melanoma. Diagnosis is complicated, however, as it shares clinical and dermoscopic characteristics with other cutaneous lesions of the face. Reflectance confocal microscopy is an imaging technique that permits the visualization of characteristic features of lentigo maligna. These include a disrupted honeycomb pattern and pagetoid cells with a tendency to show folliculotropism. These cells typically have a dendritic morphology, although they may also appear as round cells measuring over 20μm with atypical nuclei. Poorly defined dermal papillae and atypical cells may be seen at the dermal-epidermal junction and can form bridges resembling mitochondrial structures. Other characteristic findings include junctional swelling with atypical cells located around the follicles, resembling caput medusae. Reflectance confocal microscopy is a very useful tool for diagnosing lentigo maligna.
Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: reyesgamo2000@yahoo.es.
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Gamo
Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
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Pampín
Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
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Floristán
D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000473:pathology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
Dermatoscopia; Dermoscopy; Lentigo maligna; Lentigo maligno; Microscopio confocal de reflectancia; Reflectance confocal microscopy