Dermoscopy of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma

Dermoscopy is useful for the evaluation of juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG). The classical "setting sun" pattern is characteristic of JXG, but its sensibility appears to be limited. An extensive description of other dermoscopic findings is not available in the literature.

The aim of this study was to valuate and describe the clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of a series of JXG cases.

This is a retrospective descriptive study, including cases with histopathologic diagnosis of JXG, and the availability of clinical and dermoscopic images, assessed for the presence of dermoscopic features based on the available literature.

A total of 17 lesions were analyzed. 70.6% showed global symmetry, 35.3% presented the typical "setting sun" pattern. All lesions showed yellow-orange and/or pink-red structureless color. Other dermoscopic features were yellow globules (35.3%), shiny white streaks (23.5%), brown globules (17.6%), pale-brown network (11.8%), negative network (11.8%), erosion/ulceration (11.8%), rosettes (5.9%), and hemorrhage (5.9%). Scales were seen in 64.7% of patients. Vascular structures were observed in all the lesions, mostly in an irregular distribution (76.5%). The observed vessel types were dotted (52.9%), linear (52.9%), branching-arboriform (29.4%), comma-like (23.5%), hairpin-like (17.6%), globular (17.6%), coiled (11.8%), and milky-red globules (5.9%).

Symmetry, yellow/orange-pink/red color, yellow globules, shiny white streaks, and irregularly distributed different types of vascular structures are the main dermoscopic features of JXG. This is the largest dermoscopic registry of JXG published to date.