title: Usefulness of Dermoscopy in the Differential Diagnosis of Ruptured and Unruptured Epidermal Cysts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An epidermal cyst is a common keratin-filled epithelial-lined cyst. The treatment of choice for epidermal cysts is surgical excision. If the cyst becomes ruptured, incision and drainage with oral antibiotic therapy or intralesional steroid injection are required.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the dermoscopic features that can differentiate between ruptured and unruptured epidermal cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and dermoscopic features of the pathologically confirmed epidermal cysts of two subgroups of 38 patients, 20 with unruptured cysts and 18 with ruptured cysts, were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With regard to the dermoscopic features, an ivory- white background color and punctum were commonly found in both groups (p>0.05). The unruptured-cyst group showed higher frequencies of pore sign (p<0.05), blue-white veil (p>0.05), no vascular structure, and arborizing telangiectasia (p<0.05), but the ruptured-cyst group usually had red lacunae (p>0.05) and peripheral linear branched vessels (with an erythematous rim) (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermoscopy is helpful in differentiating between ruptured and unruptured epidermal cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee Suck
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Hyeon
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Miul Dermatologic Clinic, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Deok
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jang
keywords: Dermoscopy; Epidermal cyst; Ruptured epidermal cyst; Unruptured epidermal cyst; Vascular structure