Glowing in the Dark: Use of Confocal Microscopy in Dark Pigmented Lesions

Susana Puig Sardá; Rodolfo Suárez; Josep Malvehy Guilera

doi:10.1016/j.det.2016.05.006

Glowing in the Dark: Use of Confocal Microscopy in Dark Pigmented Lesions

Dermatol Clin. 2016 Oct;34(4):431-442. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2016.05.006.

Authors

Susana Puig Sardá¹, Rodolfo Suárez², Josep Malvehy Guilera³

Affiliations

¹ Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: susipuig@gmail.com.
² Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain.
³ Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras, Barcelona, Spain.

PMID: 27692449
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2016.05.006

Abstract

Reflectance confocal microscopy patterns and structures of clinically dark lesions are described. Because many of the dark lesions have melanin in superficial skin layers these lesions show great semiology by confocal. Limitations and pitfalls of reflectance confocal microscopy in clinically dark lesions are also detailed.

Keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Blue nevus; Melanoma; Reflectance confocal microscopy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Basal Cell / diagnostic imaging*
Dermis / diagnostic imaging*
Dermoscopy
Epidermis / diagnostic imaging*
Humans
Intravital Microscopy
Melanins*
Melanoma / diagnostic imaging*
Microscopy, Confocal
Nevus, Blue / diagnostic imaging*
Skin Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

Melanins