Yao QN, Lu YM, Fei WM, Xie CT, Cheng WH, Ren H, Hu WL. Dermoscopy in Mycobacterium marinum infection and its correlation with clinical and histopathological features: a prospective observational study.
Clin Exp Dermatol 2023;
48:89-95. [PMID:
36730499 DOI:
10.1093/ced/llac029]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Mycobacterium marinum is a nontuberculous mycobacterium and a conditional pathogen to humans, which can be inoculated directly and cause chronic skin granulomas. Dermoscopy has been applied to other granulomatous skin diseases, but not to M. marinum infection.
AIM
To explore the dermoscopic features of M. marinum infection, and its correlation with clinical and histopathological features.
METHODS
In total, 27 lesions from 27 patients (19 women, 8 men, age range 28-71 years) diagnosed with M. marinum infection were identified by clinical examination, histopathological results, PCR sequencing and mycobacterial culture in the dermatology outpatient department of our hospital from March 2020 to February 2022. The dermoscopy images and pathological characteristics were analysed.
RESULTS
Lesions were located on the hands, forearms and upper arms. The following dermoscopic features were observed: yellowish-orange structureless areas (85·2%), white striped structures (59·3%), follicular plugs (29·6%), yellowish oval clods (14·8%) and reddish or pinkish areas (14·8%). Vessel structures were visible in all cases: long hairpin vessels (81·5%), corkscrew vessels (25·9%), comma-shaped vessels (22·2%) and linear vessels (22·2%).
CONCLUSION
Yellowish-orange structureless areas, white striped structures and long hairpin vessels are the most common dermoscopic features of M. marinum infection. Thus, dermoscopy could be used as a noninvasive auxiliary diagnostic method to provide a diagnostic basis for this disease.
Collapse