Ultraviolet-Induced Fluorescence and Sub-Ultraviolet Reflectance Dermatoscopy of Grover’s Disease (Transient Acantholytic Dermatosis): a Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study

Paweł Pietkiewicz; Cristian Navarrete-Dechent; Adhikari  Adarsha; Carmen Cantisani; Mohamad Goldust; Natalia Salwowska; Norbert Kiss

doi:10.5826/dpc.1504a5980

Ultraviolet-Induced Fluorescence and Sub-Ultraviolet Reflectance Dermatoscopy of Grover’s Disease (Transient Acantholytic Dermatosis): a Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study

Authors

Paweł Pietkiewicz Unitelematica Leonardo Da Vinci, 6300 Zug, Switzerland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7262-2456
Cristian Navarrete-Dechent Department of Dermatology, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Adhikari Adarsha Medical Private Practice, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Carmen Cantisani UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
Mohamad Goldust Department of Dermatology, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Natalia Salwowska Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, 40-027 Katowice, Poland.
Norbert Kiss Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary

Keywords:

dermoscopy, skin imaging, Grover's disease, ultraviolet, skin cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Grover's disease (GD) is a rare acantholytic skin disorder typically characterized by pruritic vesicular or keratotic truncal papules, most commonly affecting older Caucasian males. Ultraviolet-induced fluorescence dermatoscopy (UVFD) and sub-ultraviolet reflectance dermatoscopy (sUVRD) are novel imaging techniques with potential diagnostic value in dermatology.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the dermatoscopic patterns of GD using UVFD and sUVRD techniques.

Methods: A retrospective single-center cohort observational study was conducted including consecutive adult patients diagnosed with GD. Dermatoscopic images were obtained using a Dermlite DL5 dermatoscope paired with a smartphone for UVFD and a Casio DZ-D100 Dermocamera for sUVRD.

Results: Among the 23 investigated patients (15 females, eight males; mean age 49.13 years), UVFD images frequently showed central polygonal bright scales with a greenish background. sUVRD images demonstrated hyporeflective polygonal scales, hyperreflective halos, and vascular patterns at the periphery. sUVRD was superior to UVFD and CD in the detection of semi-specific polygonal scales in GD. Eccrine duct involvement was observed in 76.31% of sUVRD images and 57.89% of matching conventional polarized dermatoscopy images. Contrary to the existing literature, female patients represented a higher percentage of the cohort. Twelve GD patients (52.2%) had a personal history of skin cancer,

Conclusion: UVFD and sUVRD effectively characterized the unique features of GD lesions. Our findings suggest that GD may affect younger individuals and females more frequently than previously reported, potentially indicating underdiagnosis in this population. Incorporating dermatoscopy into routine examinations may improve the detection and management of GD.

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