Dermoscopy of lymphangioma circumscriptum: A morphological study of 45 cases

Abstract

Background/objectives: The dermoscopy of lymphangioma circumscriptum, also known as superficial lymphatic malformation, remains to be clarified.

Methods: Digital dermoscopic images of 45 histopathologically confirmed cases of lymphangioma circumscriptum collected from nine hospitals in Spain, Italy and Turkey were evaluated for the presence of dermoscopic structures and patterns.

Results: Our study shows that the most common structure found in lymphangioma circumscriptum was the presence of lacunae (89% of cases). The latter were red or dark-coloured in 18 cases (45%), yellowish or whitish in 14 cases (35%) and multicoloured in eight cases (20%). The second most common dermoscopic structure was the presence of vascular structures, which were found in 82% of cases, followed by white lines (47%), the hypopyon sign or two-tone lacunae (42%) and scales (7%).

Conclusions: Dermoscopy is useful in improving the diagnosis of lymphangioma circumscriptum with characteristic structures and patterns and could assist in elucidating the presence of blood in lymphatic channels.

Keywords: dermoscopy; lymphangioma circumscriptum; superficial lymphatic malformation; vascular tumour.