Dermoscopic patterns of acral melanocytic nevi and melanomas in a white population in central Italy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the dermoscopic features of acral melanocytic lesions in a white population in central Italy.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
University dermatology department.


METHODS
Six hundred fifty-one Italian subjects, ranging in age from 6 months to 78 years.


METHODS
We retrospectively investigated all digital dermoscopic images of acral melanocytic lesions included in our database from January 1996 to May 2005.


RESULTS
We retrieved digital images of 723 benign acral melanocytic lesions in 641 patients (235 males and 406 females; mean age, 26.5 years) and of 10 acral melanomas in 10 patients (7 males and 3 females; mean age, 65 years). Individual lesions were located on the soles (n=520), fingers (n=146), and palms (n=67). Among acral nevi, the parallel furrow (42.1%) was the most common pattern, followed by the latticelike (14.9%), nontypical (13.7%), fibrillar (10.8%), homogeneous (9.3%), globular (5.4%), and reticular (2.1%) patterns. The frequency of distribution of the latticelike, nontypical, fibrillar, and homogeneous patterns significantly differed (P<.001, P=.03, P<.001, and P=.03, respectively) between anatomical sites. Also, 13 acral nevi (1.8%), mainly located on the fingers, showed a new combined pattern (transition pattern) consisting of a brownish black network associated with a parallel furrow or latticelike pattern. All 10 acral melanomas showed a multicomponent dermoscopic pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
In our series of acral nevi, we observed 8 dermoscopic patterns, with varying distribution by anatomical site. Identification of a specific pattern is highly suggestive of the benign or the malignant nature of any given acral melanocytic lesion.
Altamura
Davide
D
Department of Dermatology, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
Altobelli
Emma
E
Micantonio
Tamara
T
Piccolo
Domenico
D
Fargnoli
Maria Concetta
MC
Peris
Ketty
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*