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. 2014 Dec;31(6):362-7.
doi: 10.5114/pdia.2014.47119. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

Dermoscopic and clinical features of trunk melanomas

Nazan Emiroglu  1 , Fatma Pelin Cengiz  2 , Rainer Hofmann-Wellenhof  3
Affiliations

Dermoscopic and clinical features of trunk melanomas

Nazan Emiroglu et al. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant melanomas account for 5% of all skin cancers and usually have a fatal clinical course. Additionally, the incidence of melanoma increases more rapidly than in any other cancer, and this has been attributed to the development of highly sensitive diagnostic techniques, mainly dermoscopy, which allows for early diagnosis. The phenotypic manifestations of gene/environment interactions, environmental factor and genetic factors may determine subtypes and anatomic localization of melanoma. Histopathologic subtypes, risk factors, and thickness of the skin are different in trunk melanomas.

Aim: To determine the frequency of dermatoscopic features in trunk melanomas. This study also investigates dermoscopic features according to the diameter of lesions.

Material and methods: Seventy-one trunk melanomas were included. Their dermoscopic and clinical images, histopathological and clinical data were assessed. The relations between the diameter, Breslow thickness and dermoscopic characteristics were evaluated.

Results: The most common dermoscopic findings of trunk melanomas were the multicomponent pattern (55 patients, 77.5%), asymmetry (62 patients; 87.3%), blue-gray veil (59 patients, 83.1%), and color variety (56 patients, 78.8%). When dermoscopic findings were compared, a multicomponent pattern (p = 0.03), milky-red areas (p = 0.001), blue-gray veils (p = 0.023), and regression structures (p = 0.037) were more common in large melanomas than in small melanomas.

Conclusions: The most common dermoscopic findings of trunk melanomas were the multicomponent pattern, asymmetry and blue-gray veil, color variety. The multicomponent pattern, milky-red areas, blue-gray veils, regression structures were statistically significant dermoscopic features in a group of large-diameter melanomas, compared to small melanomas.

Keywords: dermoscopy; melanoma; trunk.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anatomic location: abdominal area. Histopathologic subtype: superficial spreading melanoma. Breslow thickness 0.5 mm, AJCC 2009: T1a, mitoses < 1/mm2. Diameter: 32 mm. Dermoscopic features: asymmetry, multicomponent structure, atypical pigment network, atypical dots and globules, blue-gray veil, blotch, regression structures
Figure 2
Figure 2
Anatomic location: shoulder. Histopathologic subtype: melanoma in situ. Breslow thickness < 0.5 mm, mitoses < 1/mm2, AJCC 2009: T1a. Diameter: 8 mm. Dermoscopic features: asymmetry, atypical dots and globules, streaks, blue-gray veil
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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