Accuracy of dermoscopic criteria for the differential diagnosis between irritated seborrheic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Even with the addition of dermoscopy, a significant morphologic overlap exists between irritated seborrheic keratosis (ISK) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the dermoscopic criteria that could serve as potent predictors for the differential diagnosis between ISK and SCC.

Methods: Dermoscopic images of histopathologically diagnosed ISKs and SCCs were evaluated by 3 independent investigators for the presence of predefined criteria.

Results: A total of 104 SCCs and 61 ISKs were included. The main dermoscopic predictors of SCC were dotted vessels (odds ratio [OR], 10.4), branched linear vessels (OR, 5.30), white structureless areas (OR, 6.78), white circles surrounding follicles (OR, 23.45), a diffuse irregular (OR, 2.55) or peripheral (OR, 2.8) vessel arrangement, and a central scale arrangement (OR, 3.35). Dermoscopic predictors of ISK were hairpin vessels (OR, 0.38), a diffuse regular vessel arrangement (OR, 0.39 and OR, 0.36), and white halos surrounding vessels covering more than 10% of the lesion (OR, 0.29 and OR, 0.12).

Limitations: First, the retrospective design of the study; second, the differential diagnosis included in the study was restricted to ISK and SCC.

Conclusions: We confirmed the significant morphologic overlap between ISK and SCC, but we also identified potent predictors for the differential diagnosis between these 2 entities.

Keywords: dermatoscopy; dermoscopy; differential diagnosis; irritated seborrheic keratosis; skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma.