title: Superficial black network: an additional dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of pigmented spindle and/or epithelioid cell nevus.
abstract: Dermoscopy is a valuable method for improving the diagnostic accuracy of pigmented skin lesions. Specific dermoscopic criteria have been described for differentiating pigmented spindle and/or epithelioid cell nevi (SECN; Spitz nevi and Reed nevi) from cutaneous melanomas. In the present study, we report an additional dermoscopic feature of SECN, namely a distinctive type of pigment network, described as superficial black network, which was observed in 10.5% of SECN. Histopathologically, this network corresponds to focal areas of pigmented parakeratosis, producing a black reticulated appearance on the horizontal plane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pathology Section, Federico II University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmann-Wellenhof
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Staibano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimenti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*