title: Frequency of dermoscopic nevus subtypes by age and body site: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To subclassify acquired nevi by dermoscopic pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study with consecutive enrollment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pigmented lesion clinics in referral academic medical centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals older than 2 years undergoing total skin examination were consecutively recruited between October 1, 2008, and May 31, 2009, and, based on their age, assigned to 1 of 8 groups. For each patient, the location and dermoscopic pattern of all nevi on the torso were recorded. Nevi were dermoscopically subclassified as globular, reticular, mixed (reticular-globular) pattern with peripheral or central globules, or unspecified pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of dermoscopic nevus subtypes stratified by patient age and location of the nevi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5481 nevi in 480 individuals were evaluated. The number of all nevus subgroups, except for unspecified pattern nevi, significantly increased before and decreased after the fourth decade of life. Globular nevi were most prevalent on the upper trunk in children and adolescents; the number decreased consistently after the second decade of life. The reticular pattern was the most common nevus pattern after the second decade of life and the most common nevus subgroup on the upper and middle back. Although uncommon, central globular nevi also showed an age-dependent trend, similar to that of reticular nevi. Nevi with the peripheral globular pattern declined rapidly after the third decade of life and were no longer observed after the sixth decade. The number of unspecified pattern nevi was stable across all age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, dermoscopic pattern, and location of nevi should be jointly considered when evaluating melanocytic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 8, 8036, Graz, Austria. iris.zalaudek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalaudek
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Ashfaq A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Marghoob
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scope
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manzo
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moscarella
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malvehy
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catricalà
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult