TY - JOUR
KW - Dermoscopy
KW - Cutaneous granulomatous disorders
KW - non-invasive imaging
AU - Sunil SS
AU - Korecka K
AU - PolaĆska A
AB - Dermoscopy has gained increasing recognition in recent years as a valuable non-invasive supplementary tool in diagnosing various skin disorders. However, a comprehensive overview of the distinguishing features of various cutaneous granulomatous diseases remains limited. This narrative aims to summarize the overlapping dermoscopic patterns reported across various diseases such as leprosy, cutaneous tuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, granuloma annulare, necrobiosis lipoidica, sarcoidosis, granulomatous variant of rosacea, annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma, and lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei. Across these conditions, several overlapping dermoscopic features were observed including, yellow-orange structureless areas, white structureless areas, linear, dotted and branching vascular patterns. These shared patterns can limit early recognition and diagnostic specificity. When interpreted alongside clinical features, dermoscopy may help narrow the differential diagnosis. However, dermoscopy alone is inadequate for definitive diagnosis; histopathology remains the gold standard. This narrative highlights the overlapping dermoscopic features of various cutaneous granulomatous diseases, emphasizing its role as a complementary tool.
BT - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DA - 10/2026
DO - 10.3390/jcm15207821
IS - 20
LA - ENG
M3 - Article
N2 - Dermoscopy has gained increasing recognition in recent years as a valuable non-invasive supplementary tool in diagnosing various skin disorders. However, a comprehensive overview of the distinguishing features of various cutaneous granulomatous diseases remains limited. This narrative aims to summarize the overlapping dermoscopic patterns reported across various diseases such as leprosy, cutaneous tuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, granuloma annulare, necrobiosis lipoidica, sarcoidosis, granulomatous variant of rosacea, annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma, and lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei. Across these conditions, several overlapping dermoscopic features were observed including, yellow-orange structureless areas, white structureless areas, linear, dotted and branching vascular patterns. These shared patterns can limit early recognition and diagnostic specificity. When interpreted alongside clinical features, dermoscopy may help narrow the differential diagnosis. However, dermoscopy alone is inadequate for definitive diagnosis; histopathology remains the gold standard. This narrative highlights the overlapping dermoscopic features of various cutaneous granulomatous diseases, emphasizing its role as a complementary tool.
PB - MDPI AG
PY - 2026
SP - 1
EP - 13
T2 - Journal of Clinical Medicine
TI - Dermoscopic Patterns in Granulomatous Diseases: A Narrative Review
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7821/pdf?version=1791626851
VL - 15
SN - 2077-0383
ER -