Diagnostic impact of reflectance confocal microscopy as a second-level examination for facial skin lesions.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Benign and malignant facial skin lesions may be difficult to differentiate clinically and with dermoscopy. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) as a second-level examination for facial skin neoplasms.

Patients and methods

Retrospective and blinded evaluation of 160 consecutive facial lesions was carried out in two separate steps. Clinical and dermoscopic images were assessed first, followed by combined evaluation of clinical/dermoscopic and RCM images. Our study included 60 % malignant lesions, comprising 43 % melanomas, 9 % basal cell carcinomas, 5 % in situ squamous cell carcinomas and 3 % lymphomas.

Results

Ancillary RCM significantly improved diagnostic specificity for t

SUBMITTER: Ahlgrimm-Siess V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6850114 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature