Clinical and dermoscopic characterization of pediatric and adolescent melanomas: Multicenter study of 52 cases Journal Article


Authors: Carrera, C.; Scope, A.; Dusza, S. W.; Argenziano, G.; Nazzaro, G.; Phan, A.; Tromme, I.; Rubegni, P.; Malvehy, J.; Puig, S.; Marghoob, A. A.
Article Title: Clinical and dermoscopic characterization of pediatric and adolescent melanomas: Multicenter study of 52 cases
Abstract: Background: Knowledge regarding the morphologic spectrum of pediatric melanoma (PM) is sparse, and this may in part contribute to delay in detection and thicker tumors. Objective: To analyze the clinicodermoscopic characteristics of PM. Methods: Retrospective study of 52 melanomas diagnosed in patients before the age of 20 years. Results: On the basis of its clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic characteristics, PM can be classified as spitzoid or nonspitzoid. The nonspitzoid melanomas (n = 37 [72.3%]) presented in patients with a mean age of 16.3 years (range, 8-20) and were associated with a high-risk phenotype and a pre-existing nevus (62.2%). The spitzoid melanomas (n = 15 [27.7%]) were diagnosed in patients at a mean age of 12.5 years (range, 2-19) and were mostly de novo lesions (73.3%) located on the limbs (73.3%). Whereas less than 25% of PMs fulfilled the modified clinical ABCD criteria (amelanotic, bleeding bump, color uniformity, de novo at any diameter), 40% of spitzoid melanomas did. Dermoscopic melanoma criteria were found in all cases. Nonspitzoid melanomas tended to be multicomponent (58.3%) or have nevus-like (25%) dermoscopic patterns. Spitzoid melanomas revealed atypical vascular patterns with shiny white lines (46.2%) or an atypical pigmented spitzoid pattern (30.8%). There was good correlation between spitzoid subtype histopathologically and dermoscopically (κ = 0.66). Limitations: A retrospective study without re-review of pathologic findings. Conclusion: Dermoscopy in addition to conventional and modified clinical ABCD criteria helps in detecting PM. Dermoscopy assists in differentiating spitzoid from nonspitzoid melanomas. © 2017
Keywords: adolescent; child; preschool child; child, preschool; retrospective studies; young adult; clinical trial; phenotype; melanoma; dermoscopy; nevus; skin neoplasms; age factors; pathology; diagnostic imaging; retrospective study; epiluminescence microscopy; age; skin tumor; multicenter study; neoplasm invasiveness; detection; childhood; skin ulcer; complication; tumor invasion; pediatric melanoma; spitz; humans; human; male; female; spitzoid
Journal Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume: 78
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0190-9622
Publisher: Mosby Elsevier  
Date Published: 2018-02-01
Start Page: 278
End Page: 288
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.09.065
PUBMED: 29024734
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7344877
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 November 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Stephen Dusza
    288 Dusza
  2. Alon Scope
    125 Scope
  3. Ashfaq A Marghoob
    534 Marghoob