diagnosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
The clinical picture may be sufficient to confirm the diagnosis of CDLE. If in doubt, skin biopsy may be performed. The presence of red, scaly circular lesions on light-exposed skin is suggestive. Detachment of an adherent scale from a lesion will reveal the characteristic plug that has occupied the pilosebaceous follicle - the carpet tack or tin tack scale. In a small number of cases, circulating antinuclear antibodies may be detected.
If in doubt, a skin biopsy of
- a fresh lesion - for histopathology
- an old lesion - for immunofluoresence may be performed to confirm the diagnosis (1)
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