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. 2019 Oct;31(5):518-524.
doi: 10.5021/ad.2019.31.5.518. Epub 2019 Aug 30.

Dermoscopic Evolution of Pediatric Nevi

Fatma Pelin Cengiz  1 , Yaren Yılmaz  2 , Nazan Emiroglu  1 , Nahide Onsun  1
Affiliations

Dermoscopic Evolution of Pediatric Nevi

Fatma Pelin Cengiz et al. Ann Dermatol. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Background: The incidence of pediatric melanoma is very rare. Dermoscopic features help to distinguish pediatric melanoma and common nevi.

Objective: To study the evolution of dermoscopic findings in benign nevi in childhood through serial observation and photography.

Methods: We examined 504 melanocytic lesions in 100 patients. From each participant, dermoscopic images of the nevi from 4-year dermoscopic follow-up were obtained, including randomly selected nevi.

Results: The most common dermoscopic patterns were homogeneous (193 nevi; 38.3%), globular (92 nevi; 18.3%), and reticular (86 nevi; 17.1%). Dermoscopic pattern changes were detected in 27% of patients aged 2~10 years and in 20% of patients aged 11~16 years. The main pattern changes consisted of the transition from homogeneous to globular-homogeneous (16%), from homogeneous to reticular-homogeneous (12%) and from globular to globular-homogeneous (10%). Although 257 of the 504 nevi (51.0%) have stable duration without size changes, 169 of the 504 nevi (33.5%) were enlarged, and 78 of the 504 nevi (15.5%) had become smaller.

Conclusion: These results contrast with the prevailing view that dermoscopic patterns in pediatric nevi are usually characterized by globular patterns and that melanocytic nevi generally undergo a characteristic transition from a globular pattern to a reticular pattern. Fifty one percent of patients did not exhibit a size change. While 33% of patients had symmetrical enlargement, 15% of patients had involution. Therefore, enlargement is a common dermoscopic change in pediatric nevi, and is not a specific sign of pediatric melanoma.

Keywords: Child; Dermoscopy; Nevus.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. A 9-year-old boy, nevus on the arm, dermoscopic change of homogeneous pattern to homogeneous-globular pattern (A: baseline, B: 12 months after, C: 24 months after, D: 48 months after).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. A 14-year-old boy, nevus on the leg, dermoscopic change of globular pattern to homogeneous pattern (A: baseline, B: 12 months after, C: 24 months after, D: 48 months after).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. A 10-year-old girl, nevus on the back, dermoscopic change of homogeneous pattern to reticular pattern, enlargement of nevus (A: baseline, B: 12 months after, C: 24 months after, D: 48 months after).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. A 12-year-old girl, nevus on the back, dermoscopic change of homogeneous-globular pattern to homogeneous-reticular pattern (A: baseline, B: 12 months after, C: 24 months after, D: 48 months after).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. A 8-year-old boy, nevus on the back, dermoscopy of homogeneous-reticular pattern, fading in color (A: baseline, B: 12 months after, C: 24 months after, D: 48 months after).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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