Shagreen patch (SP) was first described by Hallopeau and Leredde in 1895. Since then it has been reported to be present in 20-50% of cases of tuberous sclerosis [1].

SP is a connective tissue nevus that presents as a firm to rubbery irregular hyperpigmented rough plaque ranging in size from 1 to 10cms. The surface may resemble the surface of an orange peel. It is commonly located over the back, buttocks, thighs and nape of neck [1,2].

Although, diagnosis is easy, it can be mistaken for inflammatory verrucous epidermal nevus, plaques of other inflammatory skin conditions. Diagnosis is usually on clinical background. Sometimes biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis [3].

Dermoscopy, a non-invasive, in vivo technique for the microscopic examination of pigmented skin lesions, has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy [4].

It can be utilized as a diagnostic aide in the diagnosis of SP. Authors evaluated the dermoscopic patterns of SP and hence, it is useful in diagnosis.

A 22 year unmarried female patient presented with skin lesions. Patient was born from non-consanguineous parents. Lesions appeared at the age of 2years on right ramus of mandible and pre-auricle. Examination revealed a thick brownish-black pigmented plaque measuring 7×4 cm extending from right ramus of mandible to the upper part of the neck on right side (Fig. 1). There were angiofibromas on the face. There were no periungual fibromas, café-au lait macules, forehead plaques or hypopigmented patches. She had a normal psychomotor development and there was no history of convulsions, mental retardation. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to exclude other potential manifestations of tuberous sclerosis (TS). Provisional diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis was made.

Dermoscopy of SP showed reddish-brown strands with white dots giving a cobblestone appearance (Fig. 2 and 3). Skin biopsy was taken from mandibular lesion and histopathology showed papillomatosis and dense collagen bundle in the dermis (Fig. 4).

Prior to the study, patient gave written consent to the examination and biopsy after having been informed about the procedure.

Dermoscopy patterns in inflammatory, melanocytic, non-melanocytic lesions correspond very much to the histological features [5].

It was utilized only for evaluation of melanoma in the past. Recently usage of dermoscopy in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and monitoring of ectoparasitic, infectious and inflammatory skin diseases has been documented [6,7].

Hence, dermoscopic study of skin lesions will reveal histopathological changes with specific pattern and therefore, are helpful in the diagnosis of skin condition.

Cutaneous lesions are very characteristic and help in the early diagnosis of TS which is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by seizures, mental retardation and skin findings, including congenital hypomelanotic macules and facial angiofibromas and SP [1].

SP is one of the major diagnostic features of the disease. Its frequency is less as compared to facial angiofibromas [8]. SP represents a collagenoma.

Dermis is replaced by thick collagen bundles and elastic fibers are typically absent. Fibroblasts are large and morphologically atypical [1]. Diagnosis of SP becomes impossible especially when it occurs in rare site without other signs of TS. In one report, authors observed SP in daughter and her mother over the face [9]. Therefore, SP occurring on rare sites makes it difficult to diagnose. In the present report, SP was situated on right mandible and on pre-auricle. In such scenario, biopsy is a must to prove the diagnosis. Dermoscopy can be used to diagnose SP. Till now dermoscopic patterns of SP are not described in the literature.

In the present study, authors observed reddish-brown strands on the ridges of skin lines appearing as cobblestone. They were arranged linearly with whitish lines in between which correspond to furrows of skin lines The linear strands were studded with regularly spaced white dots. The reddish-brown strands correspond to papillomatosis as well as dense collagen bundles in the dermis. White dots correspond to eccrine sweat duct openings on skin surface. Hence, dermoscopic patterns are specific and correspond well to histopathological changes of SP.

To conclude, dermoscopy shows specific patterns in SP and these patterns corresponds to the histological changes. Hence, dermoscopy enables dermatologist to diagnose SP without doing biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report of dermoscopic pattern in SP in the literature.

The examination of the patient was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki principles.