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Giovanni Pellacani, MD; Caterina Longo, MD; Josep Malvehy, MD; Susana Puig, MD; Cristina Carrera, MD; Sonia Segura, MD; Sara Bassoli, MD; Stefania Seidenari, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(12):1597-1608.

Objectives  To identify in vivo microscopic substrates of the dermoscopic patterns of melanocytic lesions and to correlate them with histopathologic features.

Design  Before excision, lesion areas that showed characteristic dermoscopic patterns were imaged by dermoscopy and confocal microscopy and directly correlated with histopathologic features.

Setting  Departments of Dermatology of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Hospital Clínico of Barcelona, between July 2006 and March 2007.

Patients  Patients with 202 melanocytic lesions, corresponding to 76 melanomas, 114 nevi, and 12 Spitz or Reed nevi.

Main Outcome Measures  Correlation of dermoscopic patterns in melanocytic lesions with confocal microscopic findings and conventional histopathologic findings.

Results  Characteristic architectural and cytologic substrates were identified in vivo with the use of confocal microscopy and correlated with histopathologic features. Pigment network atypia was evidenced through confocal microscopy as a disarrangement of dermoepidermal junction architecture and cellular atypia. Pigmented globules consisted of cell clusters, corresponding to melanocytic nests identified on histopathologic analysis. Black dots correlated with intraepidermal reflective spots or with large pagetoid cells in nevi and melanoma, respectively. Blue structures usually consisted of numerous pleomorphic cells, corresponding to malignant melanocytes and inflammatory cells in melanomas, whereas plump bright cells, corresponding to melanophages on histopathologic analysis, characterized benign lesions. Within regression, a retiform distribution of collagen fibers, which sometimes intermingled with melanophages and rarely with nucleated cells, was observable.

Conclusions  The knowledge of the cytologic and architectural aspects of the different dermoscopic patterns, as they appear by in vivo confocal microscopy, may guide the user to the identification of specific substrates in melanocytic lesions and consequently the interpretation of the dermoscopic features.

Author Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy (Drs Pellacani, Longo, Bassoli, and Seidenari); and Department of Dermatology, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínico, Barcelona, Spain (Drs Malvehy, Puig, Carrera, and Segura).

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