Vascular patterns in nonmelanocytic tumors

There are many reports on vascular morphologies of nonmelanocytic skin tumors because dermoscopy allows a rapid horizontal view of vascular structures that cannot be observed by inspection. The general recommendation for optimal imaging of blood vessels is to use devices that have the capacity for at least 30× magnification and polarization of imaging.1 The main chromophore of nonpigmented tumors is hemoglobin, which can exhibit red, bluish, or purple colors. Vascular characteristics generally depend on tumor proliferation capacity and tumor volume.1 Superficially located vessels appear focused and bright red, whereas deeper vascularity is observed as pink and blurred. In the horizontal view of dermoscopy, vessels can be observed mainly in two forms depending on the orientation of the blood vessels in the lesion, as lines or dots/loops. Analysis of dermoscopic vascular patterns requires determination of three essential features: vessel morphology, vascular architecture or arrangement along the lesion, and presence of additional clinical criteria.2 © 2017 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC