Dermatoscopic signs in cutaneous leishmaniasis

Abstract

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive technique widely used to aid in the characterization and diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. Recently, it has also been employed for the evaluation of non-pigmented skin tumours, and inflammatory and infectious cutaneous diseases. Although the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis is confirmed by the demonstration of amastigotes in infected skin or by the growth of promastigotes in culture medium, dermoscopy could be useful as a further diagnostic test. We report a patient with a nodular lesion located on the right cheek for almost two years. The lesion was clinically suggestive of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Dermoscopy showed yellow tears, erythema and vascular structures. The diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of amastigotes in a skin scraping sample.

Relapsing erythematous papuloplaque lesions on the forearm of a middle‐aged man

“…In a study conducted by Bustamante et al, 6 the most common dermoscopic findings of cutaneous leishmaniasis were generalized erythema, vascular structures (of various types, including comma-shaped, linear, dotted, hairpin, corkscrew and glomeruli-like), white starburst-like pattern, yellowish hues, yellow teardrop-like structure, central erosions/ulcers and hyperkeratosis. 6 Our patient had the classic presentation of cutaneous leishmaniasis, but in addition, there were multiple irregularly shaped yellowish structures visible with the naked eye. Some authors have described this finding on dermoscopy as 'yellow tears', and they indicate active disease of < 6 months in duration.…”

“…2c). 6 The differential diagnoses of LR include lupus vulgaris (LV), sarcoidosis, deep fungal infections, atypical mycobacterial infection, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. 5 LV shows histopathological evidence of granuloma with or without caseation, and PCR can be used to confirm diagnosis.…”

Review on Leishmaniasis: A Neglected Global Disease

“…Different dermatoscopic characteristics have been described like white starburst like form, tear drop like patterns, yellow tears, and salmon-colored ovoid forms. The specificity of these outcomes may necessitate additional analysis [58,59].…”

Análise do perfil epidemiológico dos casos de Leishmanioses em Teresina entre 2017 a 2019

“…(Santos et al, 2021) Os principais reservatórios da doença são cães e roedores. (Bustamante et al, 2017) O quadro clínico da patologia apresenta desde lesões benignas na pele, até formas mais graves com comprometimento de órgão como baço, fígado e medula; a forma clássica da doença é referida pela tríade: febre, hepatoesplenomegalia e pancitopenia. (Lemos et al, 2019) Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), a Leishmaniose é uma das seis doenças tropicais de maior expressão no mundo, e ocupa o segundo lugar, depois da malária, entre as infecções por protozoários que afetam seres humanos.…”