Dermatoscopic Characteristics, Lesional Capillaroscopic Features, and Histopathological Correlation of Small Plaque Parapsoriasis and Mycosis Fungoides

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatoscopy is a frequently used non-invasive diagnostic procedure. Objectives: Considering that mycosis fungoides (MF) mimics parapsoriasis clinically in  early stages, we aim to determine the dermatoscopic criteria and the histopathological correlations in patients with MF and small plaque parapsoriasis (SPP). Methods: This prospective study involved 28 patients with clinical and histopathological diagnoses of MF and 31 patients with SPP. Videodermoscopy and USB capillaroscope were used to evaluate the patients vessels at ×200 magnification. Vascularity was evaluated through microvascular density (MVD) scoring involving CD34 antibody staining. Results: Fifty-nine patients were included in this study. The scores corresponding to the presence of short linear vessels, linear-curved vessels, branching linear vessels, and non- structured orange-colored areas were significantly higher in the MF patients than in the SPP patients (P < 0.05). The highest MVD (P = 0.01) scores were also higher in the MF patients than in the SPP patients. Conclusions: The SPP and early-stage MF patients differed in their MVD scores, and the findings correlated with the dermatoscopy and lesional capillaroscopy findings. Differentiating features between SPP and MF were thus identified.