Dermoscopy for Diagnosing Pigmented Lesions of the Vulva

Pigmented vulvar lesions may be melanomas, but may also be lentigos, nevi, benign melanoses, intraepithelial neoplasias, seborrheic keratoses, angiomas, or postinflammatory changes. Their clinical features often suggest melanoma. For example, benign vulvar melanoses frequently appear as multiple, large, tan-brown to blue-black asymmetric macules, with irregular borders. As on other sites, dermoscopy can aid correct diagnosis.

Researchers examined dermoscopic patterns in 68 consecutively presented pigmented vulvar lesions (5 melanomas, 20 lentigines, 16 melanocytic nevi, 12 benign vulvar melanosis, 11 postinflammatory hyperpigmentations, 3 vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias, and 1 seborrheic keratosis). Eight predominant dermoscopic patterns w…