The significance of eccentric and central hyperpigmentation, multifocal hyper/hypopigmentation, and the multicomponent pattern in melanocytic lesions lacking specific dermoscopic features of melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the significance of eccentric hyperpigmentation (EH), central hyperpigmentation (CH), multifocal hyper/hypopigmentation (MH/HP), and the multicomponent pattern (MCP) in melanocytic lesions lacking specific dermoscopic features of melanoma.


METHODS
A total of 3367 benign and malignant melanocytic lesions (n = 341 melanomas, excluding lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma) were examined to identify those lesions lacking specific dermoscopic features of melanoma but having any of the global patterns of EH, CH, MH/HP, and MCP.


METHODS
Dermoscopic images were collected from lesions excised or undergoing sequential digital monitoring from the Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre, a tertiary referral institution located in Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
The odds ratio (OR) for melanoma of EH, CH, MH/HP, and MCP.


RESULTS
While EH (OR, 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-4.6) and MCP (OR, 15.4; 95% CI, 11.9-19.9) were significant predictors of melanoma when total melanomas vs nevi were analyzed, there was no significant difference between the frequency of any of the global patterns in melanomas vs benign nevi lacking specific dermoscopic features of melanoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our study results and previous prevalence data on these global patterns in benign nevi, we do not believe that lesions with EH or MCP require closer observation than other benign nevi lacking specific dermoscopic features of melanoma.
Arevalo
Alda
A
Department of Dermatology, Medica Uruguaya Corporacion De Asistencia Medica, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Altamura
Davide
D
Avramidis
Michelle
M
Blum
Andreas
A
Menzies
Scott
S
D001315:Australia; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*