Reflectance confocal microscopy terminology glossary for nonmelanocytic skin lesions: A systematic review

There is lack of uniformity in reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) terminology for nonmelanocytic lesions (NMLs).

To review published RCM terms for NMLs and identify likely synonymous terms.

We conducted a systematic review of original research articles published up to August 19, 2017, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Two investigators gathered all published RCM terms used to describe basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and seborrheic keratosis/solar lentigo/lichen planus-like keratosis (SK/SL/LPLK). Synonymous terms were grouped on the basis of similarity in definition and histopathologic correlates.

The inclusion criteria was met by 31 studies. Average frequency of use per term was 1.6 (range 1-8). By grouping synonymous terms, the number of terms could be reduced from 58 to 18 for BCC, 58 to 36 for SCC, 23 to 12 for SK/SL/LPLK, and from 139 to 66 terms (52.5% reduction) in total. The frequency of term usage stratified by anatomic layer (suprabasal epidermis vs epidermal basal layer, dermoepidermal junction, and superficial dermis) was 27 (25.7%) versus 78 (74.2%) for BCC; 60 (64.5%) versus 33 (34.5%) for SCC, and 15 (45.4%) versus 18 (54.5%) for SK/SL/LPLK, respectively.

Articles that were not peer reviewed were excluded.

Systematic review of published RCM terms provides the basis for future NMLs terminology consensus.