Vascular structures in dermoscopy

Abstract

Dermoscopy is an aiding method in the visualization of the epidermis and dermis. It is usually used to diagnose melanocytic lesions. In recent years, dermoscopy has increasingly been used to diagnose non-melanocytic lesions. Certain vascular structures, their patterns of arrangement and additional criteria may demonstrate lesion-specific characteristics. In this review, vascular structures and their arrangements are discussed separately in the light of conflicting views and an overview of recent literature.

FIGURE 1

Arborizing vessels and orange areas on the lupus vulgaris lesion

FIGURE 2

Hairpin-like vessels around excoriating lesion

FIGURE 3

Many comma-like vessels on the dermal nevus

FIGURE 4

Crown vessels surround yellowish polilobular sebaceous glands located at the core of sebaseous hyperplasia

FIGURE 5

Schematic view of common vesselformations. Arborizing (A), hairpin-like (B), linear (C), polymorphic (D), comma-like (E), dotted (F), glomerular (G), corkscrew-like (H), crown-like (J), strawberry pattern (K), milky red globules (L), red globules (M), twisted red loops (N), spermatozoa-like vessels (O)

FIGURE 6

The structural arrangements of vessels. Irregular (homogenous) (A), string-like (B), clustered (C), radial (D), irregular arborising (E), reticular (F), irregular (non-homogenous) (G)