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. 2022 Nov;12(11):2453-2488.
doi: 10.1007/s13555-022-00806-x. Epub 2022 Sep 30.

Body Site Distribution of Acquired Melanocytic Naevi and Associated Characteristics in the General Population of Caucasian Adults: A Scoping Review

Dilki Jayasinghe #  1 , Kaitlin L Nufer #  2 , Brigid Betz-Stablein  2 , H Peter Soyer  2   3   4 , Monika Janda  5   6   7
Affiliations

Body Site Distribution of Acquired Melanocytic Naevi and Associated Characteristics in the General Population of Caucasian Adults: A Scoping Review

Dilki Jayasinghe et al. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022 Nov.

Abstract

The number of melanocytic naevi is a major risk factor for melanoma. The divergent pathway hypothesis proposes that the propensity for naevus proliferation and malignant transformation may differ by body site and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This scoping review aimed to summarise the evidence on the number and distribution of naevi (≥ 2 mm) on the body overall and by individual anatomical sites in Caucasian adults, and to assess whether studies used the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) protocol to guide naevus counting processes. Systematic searches of Embase and PubMed identified 661 potentially relevant studies, and 12 remained eligible after full-text review. Studies varied widely in their counting protocols, reporting of naevus counts overall and by body sites, and used counting personnel with differing qualifications. Only one study used the IARC protocol. Studies reported that the highest number of naevi was on the trunk in males and on the arms in females. Body sites which receive intermittent exposure to UV radiation had higher density of naevi. Larger naevi (≥ 5 mm) were detected mostly on body sites intermittently exposed to UV radiation, and smaller naevi (< 5 mm) on chronically exposed sites. Studies reported that environmental and behavioural aspects related to UV radiation exposure, as well as genetic factors, all impact body site and size distribution of naevi. This review found that to overcome limitations of the current evidence, future studies should use consistent naevus counting protocols. Skin surface imaging could improve the reliability of findings. An updated IARC protocol is required that integrates these emerging standards and technologies to guide reliable and reproducible naevus counting in the future.

Keywords: Body site distribution; Melanocytic naevi; Melanoma; Melanoma risk; Moles; Population-based adults.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow chart of the screening process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Images from an interactive dashboard using 3D total-body imaging data to visualize body site distribution of naevi and associated characteristics. (i) Body site distribution of naevi filtered for ‘male’ participants in the age range 50–59 years. (ii) Body site distribution of naevi and characteristics of participant ‘MYM10188’. (iii) Comparison of the body site distribution of naevi of participant ‘MYM10188’ with participants in the sample with the same age and sex category
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Images from an interactive dashboard using 3D total-body imaging data to visualize body site distribution of naevi and associated characteristics. (i) Body site distribution of naevi filtered for ‘male’ participants in the age range 50–59 years. (ii) Body site distribution of naevi and characteristics of participant ‘MYM10188’. (iii) Comparison of the body site distribution of naevi of participant ‘MYM10188’ with participants in the sample with the same age and sex category
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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