Reflectance confocal microscopy - Consensus terminology glossary in Brazilian Portuguese for normal skin, melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions

Abstract Background: Currently, there is no uniform and official terminology in Portuguese for reflectance confocal microscopy analysis, despite the increasing number of Brazilian dermatologists using this new tool. Objective: To present the terminology in Brazilian Portuguese for the description of reflectance confocal microscopy and establish the first Brazilian consensus on terms related to normal skin and cutaneous tumors. Methods: 10 Brazilian specialists from different institutions and states of Brazil were selected to evaluate the best corresponding terms in Portuguese for normal skin, melanocytic and non-melanocytic tumors. The terms used were translated from international consensuses in the English language. The modified Delphi method was used to create the consensus in 3 steps. Results: The terms considered the most appropriate in the Portuguese language to describe the findings of normal skin, melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions in the reflectance confocal microscopy analysis were presented. Study limitations: The limitations of the present study include the number of participants and limited regional representation (only two of the five Brazilian regions were represented). Conclusion: This Brazilian consensus represents an opportunity for dermatologists and physicians specializing in cutaneous oncology to become familiar with reflectance confocal microscopy, propagating the technique in clinical and research environments to stimulate national and international publications on this subject.

A Narrative Review: Opportunities and Challenges in Artificial Intelligence Skin Image Analyses Using Total Body Photography.

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for skin lesion classification have reported accuracy at par with and even outperformance of expert dermatologists in experimental settings. However, the majority of algorithms do not represent real-world clinical approach where skin phenotype and clinical background information are considered. We review the current state of AI for skin lesion classification and present opportunities and challenges when applied to total body photography (TBP). AI in TBP analysis presents opportunities for intrapatient assessment of skin phenotype and holistic risk assessment by incorporating patient-level metadata, although challenges exist for protecting patient privacy in algorithm development and improving explainable AI methods.

Reflectance confocal microscopy - Consensus terminology glossary in Brazilian Portuguese for normal skin, melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no uniform and official terminology in Portuguese for reflectance confocal microscopy analysis, despite the increasing number of Brazilian dermatologists using this new tool. OBJECTIVE: To present the terminology in Brazilian Portuguese for the description of reflectance confocal microscopy and establish the first Brazilian consensus on terms related to normal skin and cutaneous tumors. METHODS: 10 Brazilian specialists from different institutions and states of Brazil were selected to evaluate the best corresponding terms in Portuguese for normal skin, melanocytic and non-melanocytic tumors. The terms used were translated from international consensuses in the English language. The modified Delphi method was used to create the consensus in 3 steps. RESULTS: The terms considered the most appropriate in the Portuguese language to describe the findings of normal skin, melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions in the reflectance confocal microscopy analysis were presented. STUDY LIMITATIONS: The limitations of the present study include the number of participants and limited regional representation (only two of the five Brazilian regions were represented). CONCLUSION: This Brazilian consensus represents an opportunity for dermatologists and physicians specializing in cutaneous oncology to become familiar with reflectance confocal microscopy, propagating the technique in clinical and research environments to stimulate national and international publications on this subject.

Pigmented lesion on the face: which is the chance of being melanoma using reflectance confocal microscopy features?

Facial melanoma presents itself as a brownish macula, being difficult to differentiate it from benign pigmented lesions of the face on clinical examination. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) assists in diagnosing facial lesions in which dermoscopy has limitations, allowing to increase the diagnostic accuracy. The study aimed to analyze the RCM features of pigmented isolated lesions of the face for diagnosing melanoma. Also, we sought to establish the chance of a pigmented lesion on the face being a melanoma using RCM criteria. In this retrospective and prospective study, 105 clinical pigmented lesions on the face underwent RCM, and cytoarchitectural features in the epidermis, the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), and dermis were described. For statistical analysis, the exact chi-square test was applied to the RCM criteria. The odds ratio was estimated using univariate logistic regression. Finally, we used the multiple logistic regression method for creating a nomogram to predict the chance of a lesion being a melanoma. After univariate and multivariate logistic regression, atypical round nucleated cells within the epidermis, pagetoid spread, and follicular dendritic cells presented as statistically significant features. Then, a complex nomogram was created to give the chance of a pigmented lesion on the face being a melanoma. The presence of these three features resulted in a 98% probability for melanoma. This study allowed to estimate the diagnosis of melanoma on the face, using RCM, practicable and feasible in the daily routine, through the presence of some RCM nomogram criteria.

Microscopia confocal de reflectância como ferramenta para avaliar os efeitos causados pelo microagulhamento: uma série de cinco casos / Reflectance confocal microscopy as a tool for assessing the injury caused by microneedling: a serie of five cases

O microagulhamento é um procedimento cirúrgico ambulatorial que pode ser utilizado para diferentes indicações com o objetivo de estimular a produção de colágeno. Foram avaliados 5 casos no transcorrer das 72 horas após o procedimento, por meio da Microscopia Confocal de Reflectância, com o objetivo de avaliar a vida útil dos orifícios.

Microneedling is an ambulatory surgical procedure that can be used for different indications with the objective of stimulating the production of collagen. Five cases were evaluated in the first 72 hours after the procedure by reflectance confocal microscopy in order to evaluate the pores lifetime.

Reflectance confocal microscopy as a tool for screening surgical margins of basal cell carcinoma.

Surgical excision of basal cell carcinoma with minimum margins requires serial assessment of layers by frozen histopathology in the case of Mohs micrographic surgery. Evaluation of presurgical tumor margins by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy is a potential alternative. We selected 12 basal cell carcinoma lesions that were analyzed by confocal microscopy to define margins. The lesions were excised by Mohs surgery. Six tumors showed negative margins in the first phase of Mohs micrographic surgery. We concluded that reflectance confocal microscopy can be useful in the preoperative definition of basal cell carcinoma margins.

Reflectance confocal microscopy as a tool for screening surgical margins of basal cell carcinoma

Abstract: Surgical excision of basal cell carcinoma with minimum margins requires serial assessment of layers by frozen histopathology in the case of Mohs micrographic surgery. Evaluation of presurgical tumor margins by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy is a potential alternative. We selected 12 basal cell carcinoma lesions that were analyzed by confocal microscopy to define margins. The lesions were excised by Mohs surgery. Six tumors showed negative margins in the first phase of Mohs micrographic surgery. We concluded that reflectance confocal microscopy can be useful in the preoperative definition of basal cell carcinoma margins.

A utilidade da microscopia confocal nas lesões de lentigo maligno / The utility of confocal microscopy in lentigo maligna lesions

O diagnóstico das lesões pigmentadas da face é considerado desafiador uma vez que lesões benignas e malignas podem compartilhar características clínicas e dermatoscópicas semelhantes, principalmente em lesões iniciais, sendo muitas vezes difícil de identificar as lesões de lentigo maligno da face. Assim, a microscopia confocal de reflectância pode se tornar uma ferramenta útil no diagnóstico dos lentigos malignos bem como para o seu planejamento cirúrgico.

The diagnosis of pigmented facial lesions is considered challenging since benign and malignant lesions might have similar clinical and dermoscopic features ­ especially in the early stages of the lesion ­ entailing that it is often difficult to identify lentigo maligna lesions in the face. In this way, confocal reflectance microscopy has the potential to become a useful tool both in the diagnosis and surgical planning of lentigo maligna.

Reflectance confocal microscopy features of BRAF V600E mutated thin melanomas detected by immunohistochemistry.

The classification of melanoma into four histological subtypes has been questioned regarding its clinical validity in providing relevant information for treatment for metastatic tumors. Specific genetic alterations are associated with particular clinical and histopathological features, suggesting that these could be helpful in refining existing melanoma classification schemes. We analyzed BRAF V600E mutated melanomas to explore the Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) utility as a screening aid in the evaluation of the most appropriate patients for genetic testing. Thus, 32 melanomas were assessed regarding their BRAF V600E mutational status. Experts blinded to dermoscopic images and V600E immunohistochemistry results evaluated RCM images regarding previously described melanoma features. BRAF positive melanomas were related to younger age (p = 0.035), invasive melanomas (p = 0.03) and to the presence of hiporreflective cells (p = 0.02), epidermal nests (p = 0.02), dermal-epidermal junction nests (p = 0.05), edged papillae (p = 0.05), and bright dots (p = 0.05), and to absence of junctional thickening due to isolated cells (p = 0.01) and meshwork (p = 0.02). This study can not characterize other mutations in the BRAF, because the immunohistochemistry is specific to the type V600E. The findings should encourage the genetic evaluation of BRAF mutation. This study highlights the potential of RCM as a supplementary tool in the screening of BRAF-mutated melanomas.

Opening a Window into Living Tissue: Histopathologic Features of Confocal Microscopic Findings in Skin Tumors.

The knowledge of histopathology and in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy correlation has several potential applications. Reflectance confocal microscopy can be performed in all skin tumors, and in this article, the most common histopathologic features of confocal microscopic findings in melanocytic skin tumors and nonmelanocytic skin tumors are described.

Learning reflectance confocal microscopy of melanocytic skin lesions through histopathologic transversal sections.

Histopathologic interpretation of dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features of cutaneous melanoma was timidly carried out using perpendicular histologic sections, which does not mimic the same plane of the image achieved at both techniques (horizontal plane). The aim of this study was to describe the transverse histologic sections research technique and correlate main dermoscopic features characteristic of cutaneous melanoma (atypical network, irregular globules and pseudopods) with RCM and histopathology in perpendicular and transverse sections in order to offer a more precise interpretation of in vivo detectable features. Four melanomas and 2 nevi with different dermoscopic clues have been studied. Lesion areas that showed characteristic dermoscopic features were imaged by dermoscopy and confocal microscopy and directly correlated with histopathology in perpendicular and transverse sections. We presented the possibility to perform transverse sections as a new approach to understand RCM features. Atypical network showed different aspects in the 2 melanomas: in one case it was characterized by pleomorphic malignant melanocytes with tendency to form aggregates, whereas in the other elongated dendritic cells crowded around dermal papillae, some of them forming bridges that resembled the mitochondrial aspect at confocal and histopathology transversal sections. Pigment globules in melanomas and nevi differed for the presence of large atypical cells in the former, and pseudopods showed up as elongated nests protruded toward the periphery of the lesion. Transverse histologic research sections have a consistent dermoscopic and confocal correlate, and it may represent an help in confocal feature interpretation and an advance in improving melanoma diagnosis and knowledge of the biology of melanocytic lesions.

Tomografia de coerência óptica no diagnóstico do carcinoma basocelular / Optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma

O diagnóstico precoce do carcinoma basocelular, neoplasia cutânea de alta incidência, pode trazer grandes benefícios ao paciente. Muitas vezes lesões pouco pigmentadas, lesões iniciais pequenas e lesões superficiais podem representar um desafio diagnóstico clínico e dermatoscópico por não apresentar os achados típicos dessa neoplasia. Nessa situação, a tomografia de coerência óptica, tecnologia promissora na dermatologia, é recurso auxiliar não invasivo que pode ser incorporado à prática clínica.

Early diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma-a cutaneous neoplasia with high incidence-can bring great benefits to the patient. Often, slightly pigmented lesions, small initial lesions, and superficial lesions can represent a clinical and dermoscopic diagnostic challenge for not having the typical findings of this neoplasia. In such cases, optical coherence tomography-a promising technology in dermatology-is an auxiliary, non-invasive resource that can be incorporated into the clinical practice.

Avaliação de hiperpigmentação em cicatrizes de melanomas e nevos melanocíticos através da microscopia confocal / Evaluation of hyperpigmentation in melanomas and melanocytic nevi scars through confocal microscopy

Introdução: A microscopia confocal in vivo é método diagnóstico não invasivo auxiliar no diagnóstico de lesões hiperpigmentadas em cicatrizes. Objetivos: Avaliar através do exame de microscopia confocal a hiperpigmentação em cicatrizes de lesões melanocíticas benignas e malignas. Métodos: Avaliamos imagens clínicas, dermatoscópicas e de microscopia confocal de 14 pacientes com hiperpigmentação em cicatrizes de melanomas adequadamente tratados e nevos melanocíticos excisados. Resultados: Dos oito pacientes com hiperpigmentação em cicatrizes de melanomas, quatro não apresentaram estruturas suspeitas ao exame de microscopia confocal, e quatro apresentaram estruturas suspeitas. Entre os seis pacientes com hiperpigmentação em área de cicatriz de nevo melanocítico excisado, três apresentavam estruturas atípicas, como células dendríticas e papilas não demarcadas. Os pacientes com estruturas suspeitas realizaram exame histológico, e em um caso de hiperpigmentação em cicatriz de lentigo maligno foi evidenciado recidiva. Conclusões: O exame permitiu evitar a biópsia para confirmação diagnóstica em seis dos 14 pacientes avaliados. O achado de células com padrão dendrítico ou pagetoide no exame de microscopia confocal é um desafio diagnóstico, pois pode representar melanócitos ou células de Langerhans na camada espinhosa. Portanto, lesões que apresentam tais estruturas devem ser removidas para exame histológico e diagnóstico diferencial.

Introduction: In vivo confocal microscopy is an auxiliary non-invasive diagnostic method used in the diagnosis of hyperpigmented lesions in scars. Objectives: To evaluate hyperpigmentation in the scars of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions through confocal microscopy examination. Methods: Clinical, dermoscopic, and confocal microscopy images of fourteen patients with hyperpigmentation in adequately treated melanoma scars and in excised melanocytic nevi, were evaluated. Results: Among the eight patients with hyperpigmentation in melanoma scars, four showed no suspicious structures after confocal microscopy examination and four showed suspicious structures. Among the six patients with hyperpigmentation in areas where melanocytic nevi had been excised, three had atypical structures, such as dendritic cells and non demarcated papillae. Patients with suspicious structures underwent histological examination, with one case of hyperpigmentation in a lentigo maligna scar evidencing recurrence. Conclusions: The examination method allowed for the avoiding of biopsy in confirming the diagnosis in six of the fourteen patients. The finding of cells with dendritic or pagetoid pattern in the confocal microscopy examination means a diagnostic challenge, for it can indicate melanocytes or Langerhans cells in the spinous layer. Therefore, lesions that have such structures must be removed for histology and differential diagnosis.

Microscopia confocal no diagnóstico das lesões róseas da face / Confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of pink facial lesions

As lesões róseas solitárias da face podem apresentar padrão dermatoscópico inespecífico, sendo assim consideradas de difícil diagnóstico. Os diagnósticos diferenciais a considerar são: ceratose actínica, carcinoma espinocelular, carcinoma basocelular e melanoma amelanótico. A microscopia confocal pode ser utilizada como exame clínico auxiliar na realização do diagnóstico e na determinação dos locais mais significativos para se fazer uma biópsia. Apresentamos um caso para exemplificar a utilidade do exame de microscopia confocal nas pink lesions.

Solitary pink lesions of the face may have nonspecific dermoscopic patterns, and are thus deemed difficult to diagnose. Differential diagnoses to consider are: actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and amelanotic melanoma. Confocal microscopy can be used as an auxiliary clinical examination in their diagnosis and in determining the most significant sites for carrying out a biopsy. The authors describe a case that illustrates the usefulness of a confocal microscopy examination in pink lesions.

Contribuição do mapeamento corporal total e dermatoscopia digital para o diagnóstico precoce do melanoma / The contribution of total body mapping and digital dermoscopy for the early diagnosis of melanoma

O prognóstico do melanoma cutâneo depende principalmente de sua espessura, sendo a detecção precoce do melanoma extremamente importante para a maior sobrevida dos pacientes. Com a utilização do exame dermatoscópico, pode-se alcançar acurácia de aproximadamente 90%. Melanomas iniciais podem não apresentar características dermatoscópicas específicas, sendo apenas diagnósticados pela mudança ao longo do tempo, observada pelo mapeamento corporal total e dermatoscopia digital seriados. Os grupos que apresentam maior sensibilidade para detecção do melanoma com esse exame são os de portadores de síndrome do nevo atípico e melanoma múltiplo familial.

The prognosis of cutaneous melanomas depends mainly on the lesions' thickness; early detection is of paramount importance for patient longer survival rates. An accuracy of approximately 90% can be achieved using dermoscopic assessment. Since early melanomas might not present specific dermoscopic features, they can only be diagnosed by observing alterations over time through total body mapping and serial digital dermoscopy. Patients with atypical nevus syndrome and multiple familial melanoma presented a higher sensitivity for the detection of melanoma using that technique.

Dermoscopic findings in a patient with multiple piloleiomyomas.

Piloleiomyoma can manifest itself as a pigmented lesion and part of the differential diagnosis with other pigmented skin lesions. However, we are not aware of previous descriptions in the literature of the dermoscopic features of piloleiomyoma. This article describes the dermoscopic findings observed in a patient with multiple piloleiomyomas. On dermoscopic evaluation, piloleiomyoma has characteristics similar to dermatofibroma with a thin peripheral pigmented network and central scar-like area. Some of the piloleiomyomas analyzed in this patient also presented with hyperpigmented circular and/or elongated structures within the central hypopigmented area.