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Dermoscopy case of the month
Pigmented seborrheic keratosis showing starburst pattern

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.048Get rights and content

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Clinical presentation

A 48-year-old woman (case 1) presented with a several-year history of a black nodule of 5 mm in diameter on the upper back (Fig 1, A). A 32-year-old woman (case 2) sought medical attention for a similar black nodule of 7 mm in diameter that had appeared on the abdomen 13 years earlier (Fig 1, B).

Dermoscopic examination

Both nodules exhibited a highly pigmented central structureless area with a starburst pattern containing regularly distributed streaks at the periphery. Comedolike openings were detected over the entire surface (Fig 2).

Histologic diagnosis

Case 1 (Fig 3, A) and case 2 (Fig 3, B) were histopathologically diagnosed as acanthotic types of pigmented seborrheic keratosis (SK).

Key message

The dermoscopic diagnosis of pigmented SK can be challenging when its characteristic findings are masked by heavy melanin deposition. Although the nodules displayed comedolike openings, which are one of the dermoscopic hallmarks of SK, such findings alone are insufficient for a definite diagnosis of SK, considering that they have also been reported in

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References (2)

Cited by (5)

  • Differential diagnosis and management on seborrheic keratosis in elderly patients

    2021, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

Funding sources: None.

Conflicts of interest: None declared.

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