DERMOSCOPY FEATURES OF PORT-WINE STAINS: THE FIRST STUDY OF 148 CASES IN VIET NAM

Abstract

Introduction: Port-wine stains (PWS) are capillary malformation affecting 0.3% to 0.5% of the population. In Vietnam, the dermoscopic features of PWS have not been systematically studied.Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the dermoscopic images of 148 patients with PWS. Methods: 148 cases with PWS were analyzed basing on dermascopic images.Results: The most common vascular images were dots or globules vessels (76.4%) and linear vessels (68.9%). Sausage-like vessels and whitish veils were more common in the group of patients aged older than 18 years or with purple type of PWS. For all the dermoscopic features of PWS, excluding linear vessels, there were no significant differences between lesions located in the central facial area and peripheral facial area (p > 0.05). Compared with the peripheral facial lesions, linear vessels were more common in central facial lesions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Dermoscopy may provide very useful clinical information before laser treatment of PWS. The vascular manifestations of PWS determined by dermoscopy may correlate with age, colour, location and response to laser treatment.