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We read with interest the article by Bergman et al1 on using a dermoscope as a "nailfold capillaroscopic instrument" instead of the stereomicroscope or the videomicroscope. We would like to point out that the dermoscope can also help in the evaluation of capillaries "out of the nailfold" in nonglabrous skin. The dermoscope may be of great value for the study of the affected skin of tumors and nontumoral dermatoses (NTD), by enhancing the most basic of fundamentals in dermatology—the visual inspection.
Classic capillaroscopy has focused only on vascular findings. It consists of the direct observation of the superficial capillary circulation in the skin with sophisticated instruments such as the stereomicroscope or videomicroscope. It has been used to evaluate the nailfold, and certain findings have been correlated with connective tissue disorders. On the other hand, classic capillaroscopy "out of the nailfold," on nonglabrous skin, was tried in the past but abandoned because it also required sophisticated instruments and because there was a lack of diagnostic vascular findings. However, we recently reported that capillaroscopy performed on nonglabrous skin should be revived and investigated again due to the easy availability and use of the dermoscope. With this as our premise, we applied a method of analysis of NTD, which included the evaluation not only of capillaries but also of purpuric structures and nonvascular findings and their arrangements. We have shown that dermoscopy of NTD may improve the clinical diagnosis and monitorization of several NTD, such as urticarial vasculitis,2 lichen planus,3 plaque-type psoriasis,4 or Darier disease.5 In addition, a better knowledge of capillary changes in NTD can also contribute to and help in the differential diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma.6
We would like to recommend that the term dermoscopy or skin surface microscopy replace the term capillaroscopy since the evaluation of NTD includes evaluation of capillaries and structures other than capillaries. In addition, the term capillaroscopic instruments should be replaced with the term dermoscopy. We also recommend that efforts be made to arrive, by consensus, at a simplified terminology for the terms used when studying the surface microscopy vascular features of tumors, NTD, and nailfold "capillaries." With that said, may we propose that the simpler term dermoscopy of the nailfold replace the term dermatoscope as a nailfold capillaroscopic instrument?
The authors have no relevant financial interest in this letter.
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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