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Observational Study
. 2013 Sep-Oct;88(5):712-7.
doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132017.

Dermoscopic features of thin melanomas: a comparative study of melanoma in situ and invasive melanomas smaller than or equal to 1mm

Vanessa Priscilla Martins da Silva  1 , Juliana Kida Ikino, Mariana Mazzochi Sens, Daniel Holthausen Nunes, Gabriella Di Giunta
Affiliations
Observational Study

Dermoscopic features of thin melanomas: a comparative study of melanoma in situ and invasive melanomas smaller than or equal to 1mm

Vanessa Priscilla Martins da Silva et al. An Bras Dermatol. 2013 Sep-Oct.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Background: Dermoscopy allows the early detection of melanomas. The preoperative determination of Breslow index by dermoscopy could be useful in planning the surgical approach and in selecting patients for sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Objectives: This study aims at describing the dermoscopic features of thin melanomas and comparing melanomas in situ with invasive melanomas less than or equal to 1 mm thick.

Methods: This was an observational retrospective study in which the dermoscopy photographs of 41 thin melanomas were evaluated. Three observers evaluated together 14 dermoscopic criteria.

Results: Among thin melanomas, the most frequent criteria were presence of asymmetry in two axes in 95% of cases (39 cases), 3 or more colors in 80.4% of cases (33 cases), atypical dots or globules in 58.5% of cases (24 cases) and atypical network or streaks in 53.6% of cases (22 cases). The group of invasive melanomas presented with a higher frequency and statistical significance (p <0.05) 3 or more colors (OR: 16.1), milky red areas (OR: 4.8) and blue-white veil (OR: 20.4), and a greater tendency to have streaks or atypical network (OR: 3.66).

Conclusions: Thin melanomas tend to have asymmetry in the two axes, 3 or more colors, atypical dots or globules and atypical network or streaks. Melanomas in situ tend to have up to 2 colors, no blue-white veil and no milky red area. Invasive melanomas tend to have 3 or more colors, a milky red area, blue-white veil, and atypical network or streaks. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

FUNDAMENTOS: A dermatoscopia propicia o diagnóstico mais precoce do melanoma. A estimativa préoperatória da espessura de Breslow através da dermatoscopia poderia ser útil no planejamento da conduta cirúrgica e seleção dos pacientes para a biópsia de linfonodo sentinela.

OBJETIVOS: Este estudo objetiva descrever as características dermatoscópicas encontradas em melanomas finos e comparar melanomas in situ com melanomas invasivos menores ou iguais a 1 mm.

MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo observacional, retrospectivo, no qual avaliouse o registro fotográfico da dermatoscopia de 41 melanomas finos. Três observadores avaliaram em conjunto 14 critérios dermatoscópicos.

RESULTADOS: Dentre os melanomas finos, os critérios mais encontrados foram: presença de assimetria nos dois eixos em 95% (39 casos), 3 ou mais cores em 80,4% (33 casos), pontos ou glóbulos atípicos em 58,5% (24 casos) e rede atípica ou estrias radiadas em 53,6% (22 casos). O grupo dos melanomas invasivos apresentou com maior frequência e significância estatística (p<0,05) a presença de 3 ou mais cores (OR: 16,1), áreas vermelho-leitosas (OR: 4,8) e véu (OR: 20,4), além de uma maior tendência em apresentar rede atípica ou estrias radiadas (OR: 3,66).

CONCLUSÕES: Os melanomas finos tendem a apresentar assimetria nos dois eixos, 3 ou mais cores, pontos ou glóbulos atípicos e rede atípica ou estrias radiadas. Os melanomas in situ tendem a apresentar até 2 cores, ausência de véu e de área vermelho-leitosa. Os melanomas invasivos tendem a exibir 3 cores ou mais, área vermelho-leitosa, véu, rede atípica ou estrias radiadas. Outros estudos são necessários para a confirmação dos achados.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Lentigo maligna melanoma in situ on the foot. Dermoscopy shows asymmetry in two axes, two colors, atypical dots and globules and structureless area
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Superficial spreading melanoma with a Breslow index of 0.5 mm in the cervical region. Dermoscopy shows asymmetry in two axes, four colors, atypical globules, streaks, and milky red area
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Superficial spreading melanoma with a Breslow index of 0.9 mm on the forearm. Dermoscopy shows asymmetry in two axes, 4 colors, atypical network, streaks, atypical dots and globules, bluewhite veil, and multiple blue-gray dots
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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