Comparative Study of Dermatoscopic and Histopathologic Results in Basal Cell Carcinoma and Melanocytic Nevi of Face

Dermatoscopy can be applied to diagnose pigmented skin lesions and to follow up of suspicious cases of melanoma or other non-melanocytic skin malignancies. The aim of the present study was to compare dermatoscopic and histopathologic results in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and melanocytic nevus of face. In an analytical-descriptive study, 67 patients suspected with BCC or melanocytic nevi of face were randomly selected. The skin lesions were evaluated with dermatoscope and results were compared with pathological diagnosis of biopsied samples. Based on the dermatoscopic study, asymmetry, blue-white structures, and atypical network were present in 14 (23%), 1 (1.6%) and none of the patients, respectively. Furthermore, 27 cases (46.6%) were diagnosed with melanocytic nevi, 28 (48.3%) with BCC and 3 (5.2%) were considered as mixed type. There was significant correlation between gender and dermatoscopic diagnosis (P=0.0001). Sensitivity and specificity of dermatoscopy in diagnosis of the BCC was 100% and 97%, respectively. These values were respectively 96.4% and 97% in diagnosis of the melanocytic nevi. Dermatoscopic study can be not only helpful in improving clinical diagnosis while guiding missed malignant lesions to pathologic evaluations, but also useful in evaluating further suspicious or recurrent cases.