A Study of Clinical, Dermoscopic and Histopathological Correlation in Follicular Keratotic Diseases: Preliminary Observations in 30 Cases

CONTEXT: Follicular keratotic disorder is an abnormal keratinization affecting the follicular orifices and clinically characterized by hyperkeratotic follicular papules affecting various sites. Dermoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic tool and differentiates closely resembling diseases as well as possibly prevents need for an invasive biopsy. AIM: This study was aimed to find the correlation between clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological findings in follicular keratotic diseases and to establish the dermoscopic criteria in the diagnosis of primary follicular keratotic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study of 30 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with follicular keratotic diseases, irrespective of age and duration of the disease. RESULTS: The study consisted of 30 patients with a mean age of 19.57 ± 9.69 years. The most common primary follicular keratotic disease observed was phrynoderma and secondary follicular keratotic disease was follicular lichen planus (lichen planopilaris). The predominant dermoscopic finding among all the follicular keratotic diseases was perifollicular scaling 29 (96.7%) followed by keratotic plug 28 (93.3%). The most common histopathological feature was dilated follicular infundibulum 22 (73.3%) followed by follicular plug 15 (50%) and dermal perivascular infiltration 22 (73.3%). The clinical and dermoscopic features showed a significant statistical association with the histopathological findings. CONCLUSION: Dermoscopy is a simple, non-invasive diagnostic tool that helps in differentiating and diagnosing the closely resembling follicular keratotic diseases.