Anna Elisa Verzì
@unict.it
Scopus Publications
- AI-assisted basal cell carcinoma diagnosis with LC-OCT: A multicentric retrospective study
Sébastien Fischman, Théo Viel, Jean‐Luc Perrot, Javiera Pérez‐Anker, Mariano Suppa, et al.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2026
BackgroundBasal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, requiring an early diagnosis and accurate margin definition to prevent functional and cosmetic complications. Traditional methods using clinical and dermoscopic images (C&D) often rely on biopsies and histology for final validation. Non‐invasive techniques like LC‐OCT, enabling ‘digital biopsies’, are promising alternatives, but remain underutilized due to the expertise required. The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms is a promising approach to assist dermatologists in their diagnosis and support the broader adoption of such technologies.ObjectiveWe present a real‐time AI assistant for BCC diagnosis with LC‐OCT, which is, to date, the only real‐time AI model across all dermatological imaging modalities. The study aims to quantify the model's effectiveness when used by dermatologists with different levels of expertise and compare its performance with traditional methods and unaided LC‐OCT.MethodsThis multicenter, retrospective study involved 43 dermatologists in a double‐rounded quiz on 200 equivocal BCC lesions. Diagnoses were first made on C&D images, then with LC‐OCT or AI‐assisted LC‐OCT in a randomized manner.ResultsAI‐assisted LC‐OCT significantly improves dermatologists' diagnostic performance in detecting BCC (+25.8 points in sensitivity and +16.8 points in specificity compared to C&D), particularly benefiting those with less LC‐OCT experience, effectively bridging a 2‐year gap of expertise. These results highlight the potential for broader clinical adoption through AI assistance and underscore its promise in reducing the need for invasive procedures and improving patient outcomes.ConclusionThese results support a broader adoption of LC‐OCT use in clinical practice thanks to AI assistance and underscore its promise in reducing the need for invasive procedures and improving patient outcomes. - Authors' Reply “Impact of Topical Fluocinonide on Oral Lichen Planus Evolution: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial”
Alessandro Polizzi, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia, Simona Santonocito, Angela Alibrandi, Anna Elisa Verzì, et al.
Oral Diseases, 2026 - Reevaluating red nodules in hidradenitis suppurativa: clinical, dermatoscopic and histopathologic correlation
Maria L. MUSUMECI, Anna E. VERZÌ, Carlo GERBINO, Francesco LACARRUBBA, Pasquale VITALE, et al.
Italian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology, 2026 - Dermoscopy in the Treatment Monitoring of Cutaneous Infectious Diseases: A Review
Andrea Calogero Trecarichi, Giuseppe Micali, Anna Elisa Verzì
Dermatologic Therapy, 2026
Dermoscopy represents a powerful, noninvasive tool for assessing both active infection and therapeutic resolution in a broad spectrum of infectious skin diseases. Despite the different causative agents (parasitic, viral, or fungal), it allows to identify characteristic pathogen‐associated structures at baseline and sequential morphological changes during treatment until restoration of normal skin, hair, or nail architecture. Importantly, dermoscopy frequently reveals subclinical residual disease not visible to the naked eye, preventing premature treatment cessation and reducing recurrence rates. Conversely, it also identifies postinflammatory or postinfectious changes that do not require further therapy, thereby improving patient management and avoiding unnecessary interventions. Videodermatoscopy, allowing high magnifications, further refines this approach, enabling the direct assessment of parasite viability and time‐resolved analysis of drug effects. The present article provides an overview of the dermoscopic features of the most frequent infectious dermatoses encountered in clinical practice: scabies, pediculosis and phthiriasis, dermatophytosis (tinea infections), onychomycosis, pityriasis versicolor, viral warts, demodicosis, and molluscum contagiosum. For each condition, the characteristic pretreatment dermoscopic patterns and the sequential changes observed during therapy, which often precede or outperform clinical examination in determining disease activity and treatment success, are summarized. - Line-field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography Detects Subclinical Disease Activity in Atopic Dermatitis during Treatment with Pimecrolimus: An Intrapatient, Controlled Study
Giuseppe Micali, Francesco Lacarrubba, Maria Letizia Musumeci, Raffaella Mantegazza, Anna Elisa Verzì
Acta Dermato Venereologica, 2026 - Enhanced diagnosis of terra firma-forme dermatosis by dermoscopy and line-field confocal optical coherence tomografphy
Andrea Calogero Trecarichi, Maria Rita Nasca, Francesco Lacarrubba, Giuseppe Micali, Anna Elisa Verzì
Jaad Case Reports, 2026 - Benign purpuric cutaneous eruption in a young patient with AML treated with CPX-351
Fanny Erika Palumbo, Calogero Vetro, Cinzia Maugeri, Marina Silvia Parisi, Andrea Duminuco, et al.
Leukemia and Lymphoma, 2026 - The Clinical Spectrum of Phyma: A Case Report of Rhino-Metophyma and Review of the Literature
Ivano Luppino, Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, Giuseppe Micali
Skin Appendage Disorders, 2025
Background Phyma of the nose, or rhinophyma, is considered a diagnostic clinical phenotype of rosacea. Rarely, phyma manifestations may be present on the chin (gnathophyma), ear (otophyma), forehead (metophyma) and eyelids (blepharophyma). The purpose of this paper is to present a case of rhino-metophyma and to review the literature on the topic. Summary A 74-year-old Caucasian male with a history of inflammatory rosacea, complained of marked nasal and frontal skin thickening. Based on clinical, ultrasound, and histopathological examination, the diagnosis of rhino-metophyma was formulated. A literature review from 2000 to 2024 revealed 14 cases of rhinophyma associated with other localizations: 7 cases of rhino-otophyma, 4 of rhino-gnathophyma, and 3 of rhino-metophyma. Reported cases of isolated extranasal phyma were 21: 10 of gnathophyma, 9 of otophyma, and 2 of metophyma. Overall, patients with involvement of the nose and extranasal phyma were predominantly males with a male:female ratio 6:1, while among extranasal localizations the male:female ratio was 1.1:1. Key messages The diagnosis of rhinophyma is clinical and in the majority of cases quite easy, less for the isolated phymas in extranasal localizations. Little is also known about the management of these forms, and more studies on the prevalence of extranasal localizations and their therapeutic management would be desirable. - A novel technique for noninvasive diagnosis of herpesvirus-related skin conditions
Anna Elisa Verzì, Francesco Lacarrubba, Stefano Dimarco, Giuseppe Micali
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2025
Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a new noninvasive imaging technique that provides high-resolution skin imaging similar to that obtained with histopathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of LC-OCT in the diagnosis of herpesvirus skin infections. Patients with a clinical or anamnestic suspicion of herpesvirus infection underwent LC-OCT evaluation followed by Tzanck test. The examinations were performed in a blinded manner by different dermatologists. In total, 72 patients (38 male, 34 female; age range 13–84 years) were evaluated. In 57 patients, LC-OCT enabled the recognition of typical herpetic intraepidermal vesicles containing giant ballooning/multinucleated cells, as confirmed by Tzanck test. The final diagnoses were herpes zoster in 31 patients, herpes simplex in 16 patients, varicella in 8 patients and Kaposi varicelliform eruption in 2 patients. In the remaining 15 patients, both LC-OCT and Tzanck test results excluded a diagnosis of herpetic infection. Although the diagnosis of herpesvirus skin infection is generally clinical, in patients with minimal and/or atypical cases, LC-OCT could be a rapid and valid alternative to semi-invasive/invasive or time-consuming procedures, such as the Tzanck test, viral culture, polymerase chain reaction or histopathology. - Impact of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for Periodontitis Diagnostics: Current Overview and Advances
Pietro Rigotti, Alessandro Polizzi, Anna Elisa Verzì, Francesco Lacarrubba, Giuseppe Micali, et al.
Dentistry Journal, 2025
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides high-resolution, real-time visualization of soft and hard periodontal tissues. It offers micrometer-level resolution (typically ~10–15 μm) and a scan depth ranging from approximately 0.5 to 2 mm, depending on tissue type and system configuration. The field of view generally spans a few millimeters, which is sufficient for imaging gingiva, sulcus, and superficial bone contours. Over the past two decades, its application in periodontology has gained increasing attention due to its ability to detect structural changes in gingival and alveolar tissues without the need for ionizing radiation. Various OCT modalities, including time-domain, Fourier-domain, and swept-source OCT, have been explored for periodontal assessment, offering valuable insights into tissue morphology, disease progression, and treatment outcomes. Recent innovations include the development of three-dimensional (3D) OCT imaging and OCT angiography (OCTA), enabling the volumetric visualization of periodontal structures and microvascular patterns in vivo. Compared to conventional imaging techniques, such as radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), OCT offers superior soft tissue contrast and the potential for dynamic in vivo monitoring of periodontal conditions. Recent advancements, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of portable OCT systems, have further expanded its diagnostic capabilities. However, challenges, such as limited penetration depth, high costs, and the need for standardized clinical protocols, must be addressed before widespread clinical implementation. This narrative review provides an updated overview of the principles, applications, and technological advancements of OCT in periodontology. The current limitations and future perspectives of this technology are also discussed, with a focus on its potential role in improving periodontal diagnostics and personalized treatment approaches. - Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of Dermal Papillae in Healthy Skin: A Histopathology Controlled Study
Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, Cosimo Misciali, Davide Domenicali, Giuseppe Micali
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2025 - Impact of Topical Fluocinonide on Oral Lichen Planus Evolution: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Alessandro Polizzi, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia, Simona Santonocito, Angela Alibrandi, Anna Elisa Verzì, et al.
Oral Diseases, 2025 - Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography shows in vivo apoptosis during a novel treatment for actinic keratosis: A histopathologic controlled study
Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, Giuseppe Broggi, Giuseppe Micali
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2025 - Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging of Psoriasis With Histopathology Correlation
Anna Elisa Verzì, Francesco Lacarrubba, Maria Letizia Musumeci, Rosario Caltabiano, Giuseppe Micali
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 2025 - The fate of nonscalp hair in alopecia areata universalis under baricitinib treatment: A real-world single-center experience
Federica Dall’Oglio, Andrea Calogero Trecarichi, Maria Rita Nasca, Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, et al.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024 - Tirbanibulin in the treatment of actinic keratoses: description of a case with instrumental evaluation and long-term follow-up.
F. Lacarrubba, A. Verzì, Stefano Dimarco, Ivano Luppino, F. Dall'Oglio, et al.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina, 2024 - Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography discloses an unexpected traumatic tattoo confirmed by histopathology following a car accident
Anna Elisa Verzì, Alessia Villani, Rosario Caltabiano, Giuseppe Micali, Francesco Lacarrubba
Skin Research and Technology, 2024 - Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography: A New Skin Imaging Technique Reproducing a “Virtual Biopsy” with Evolving Clinical Applications in Dermatology
Simone Cappilli, Andrea Paradisi, Alessandro Di Stefani, Gerardo Palmisano, Luca Pellegrino, et al.
Diagnostics, 2024 - Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography of miliaria crystallina: An in vivo, three-dimensional imaging
Anna Elisa Verzì, Giuseppe Micali, Francesco Lacarrubba
Jaad Case Reports, 2024 - Subclinical, early hair regrowth in alopecia areata patients under treatment with baricitinib detected by line-field confocal optical coherence tomography evaluation
A. E. Verzì, F. Lacarrubba, F. Dall'Oglio, S. Rini, A. Tosti, et al.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024 - Alopecia areata: Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography features and dermoscopy correlation
Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, Federica Dall'Oglio, Alessia Villani, Giuseppe Micali
Skin Research and Technology, 2024 - Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography of eyelid margin growths: A case series
Anna Elisa Verzì, Andrea Russo, Niccolò Castellino, Rosario Caltabiano, Matteo Fallico, et al.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024 - Density and diameter of dermal papillae from three different anatomical areas in normal skin using reflectance confocal microscopy
Anna Elisa Verzì, Francesco Lacarrubba, Federica Dall'Oglio, Davide Puglisi, Giuseppe Micali
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023 - Dermoscopy of facial angiofibromas in Fitzpatrick II-III phototype subjects affected by tuberous sclerosis complex
Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, Maria Vittoria Magnani, Martino Ruggieri, Maria Chiara Consentino, et al.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023 - Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography in the treatment monitoring of actinic keratosis with tirbanibulin: A pilot study
Francesco Lacarrubba, Anna Elisa Verzì, Matteo Polita, Alice Aleo, Giuseppe Micali
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023
