ORIGINAL ARTICLE Correlation between the dermatoscopic and histopathological features of pigmented basal cell carcinoma D Tabanlıog ˘ lu Onan, †, *SS ¸ ahin, †,1 O ¨ Go ¨ ko ¨ z, ‡ G Erkin, † BC ¸ akır, § G Elc ¸ in, † A Kayıkc ¸ ıog ˘ lu – Departments of † Dermatology, ‡ Pathology, § Public Health and – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey *Correspondence: D Tabanlıog ˘ lu Onan. E-mail: t_duru@hotmail.com Abstract Background Dermatoscopy has a great value in the diagnosis of pigmented basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is a clinical variant of BCC. The precise definitions of histopathological correlates of dermatoscopic features observed in pigmented BCC have not been established yet. Objective The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between the dermatoscopic features of pigmented BCC and their histopathological counterparts to provide clear histopathological definitions of each dermatoscopic feature. Methods In this case series that comprised a methodological component, after the orientation of dermatoscopic features was determined by placing sutures in the lesions, the histopathological counterparts of each were examined and definitions were made accordingly. Results Although the most common histopathological subtype of BCC is the solid type, the most common histopathological subtype observed in the pigmented BCC lesions in the present study was the superficial multifocal type (72.5%). Blue-whitish veil was observed in 57.5% (n = 23) of the lesions, a percentage higher than that reported in the literature. In addition to confirming the previously histopathologically defined dermatoscopic features of pigmented BCC, we identified three histopathologically undefined features of pigmented BCC that are spoke- wheel areas, large blue-grey ovoid nests and multiple blue-grey globules. Conclusion Dermatoscopy facilitates prediction of the corresponding histopathological findings in pigmented BCC, based on specific dermatoscopic features. Received: 26 November 2009; Accepted: 4 February 2010 Keywords basal cell carcinoma, dermatoscopy, histopathology Conflict of interest None declared. Introduction Dermatoscopy is a non-invasive technique that improves the accu- racy of the clinical diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions and helps physicians to correlate clinical dermatology and dermatopathology findings by means of visualizing the morphological features that are not visible to the naked eye. 1,2 Dermatoscopic evaluation has an important role in the diagnosis of pigmented basal cell carci- noma (BCC), which is a clinical subtype that accounts for 2–5% of all BCC. 3 Dermatoscopic diagnostic criteria for pigmented BCC are as follows: (i) maple leaf-like areas; (ii) spoke-wheel areas; (iii) large blue-grey ovoid nests (iv) multiple blue-grey globules; (v) arboriz- ing vessels; and (vi) ulceration. 2 Only some of these dermatoscopic diagnostic criteria have been defined precisely in terms of histopathological counterparts (Table 1). 4–8 Non-specific derma- toscopic features that can be observed in pigmented BCC include depigmentation, blue-whitish veil, multiple blue-grey dots, multi- ple brown dots, brown ⁄ black globules, peripheral black dots or 1 Present address: Sedef S ¸ ahin, Department of Dermatology, Maslak Acıbadem Hospital, School of Medicine, Acıbadem University, _ Istan- bul, Turkey. ª 2010 The Authors JEADV 2010, 24, 1317–1325 Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ª 2010 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03639.x JEADV