Wood’s lamp an antique but precious diagnostic tool: A descriptive observational study of fluorescence pattern with wood’s lamp in clinically diagnosed patients with pityriasis versicolor

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Original Article

Author Details : Arumugakani V, P K Kavirasan, Kannambal K, Poorana B, Abhirami C*

Volume : 6, Issue : 4, Year : 2020

Article Page : 313-317

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijced.2020.063

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Abstract

Background: Although Pityriasis Versicolor(PV) may be virtually recognized by their characteristic clinical appearance. It is very difficult to diagnose atypical pityriasis versicolor occurring in uncommon sites especially flexural areas and extremities. Uncommon variant type such as plaque type of PV is difficult to differentiate from morphologically similar clinical conditions. Recurrence correlates with the extent of the skin lesions. All these clinical difficulties is overwhelmed by the effective basic tool Wood’s lamp.
Materials and Methods: This study was an observational descriptive study, totally comprised of 100 clinically diagnosed cases of PV attending Dermatology Outpatient Department over a period of 1 year (October 2019 to October 2020) at Rajah Muthaiah Medical College. Ethical clearance was sought from Institutional Ethical Committee. After obtaining written informed consent detailed history was taken in relation to age, sex, duration of illness, and recurrent infections. Clinical examination of lesion includes site, types of lesions, and scaling. All the PV patients were evaluated under Wood’s lamp examination.
Aims and Objectives: To study the fluorescence pattern in clinically suspected cases of Pityriasis Versicolor.
Results: Out of 100 cases categorized into new and recurrent of PV cases were studied. Patients presented with achromic lesions 76 (76%), chromic were 20 (20%), combined chromic and achromic skin lesions were 4 (4%). Wood’s lamp yellow fluorescence were observed in 66(86.8%) among 76 chromic PV cases, 18(90%) patients among achromic 20 cases and the all the four cases of combined variant of PV(4%). We observed yellow fluorescence under Wood’s lamp in 88 cases (88%) out of 100 cases.
Conclusion: Wood’s lamp adds a diagnostic value to find out the extent of PV early, and provides a valuable therapeutic tool to choose the mode of antifungal therapy to avoid recurrence and hypopigmentation thereby ensure complete clearance of PV by follow upWood’s lamp examination. It was also useful to differentiate the similar morphological conditions.

Keywords: Fluorescence, Pityriasis Versicolor, Wood’s lamp.

How to cite : Arumugakani V, Kavirasan P K, Kannambal K, Poorana B, Abhirami C, Wood’s lamp an antique but precious diagnostic tool: A descriptive observational study of fluorescence pattern with wood’s lamp in clinically diagnosed patients with pityriasis versicolor. IP Indian J Clin Exp Dermatol 2020;6(4):313-317

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