"Fat fingers:" A clue in the dermoscopic diagnosis of seborrheic keratoses

Alfred W. Kopf, Harold Rabinovitz, Ashfaq Marghoob, Ralph P. Braun, Steven Wang, Margaret Oliviero, David Polsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

"Fat fingers" are thick digitate linear, curvilinear, branched, or oval/circular dermoscopic structures typically seen in seborrheic keratoses where they represent the gyri of their cerebriform surfaces. Their recognition is very useful in the diagnosis of these lesions, especially when the classic features (eg, milia, comedo-like openings) are absent. Histologically and by confocal microscopy the "fat finger" gyri are accentuated by pigmented keratin filling the sulci. "Fat fingers" must be differentiated from other linear structures such as "network-like structures"; branched streaks; network; globules; pigmented ovoid-nests; and streaks/pseudopods seen in different melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1089-1091
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume55
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '"Fat fingers:" A clue in the dermoscopic diagnosis of seborrheic keratoses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this