title: Dermoscopy and confocal microscopy of nested melanoma of the elderly: recognizing a newly defined entity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nested melanoma of the elderly is a newly identified histopathologic variant of superficial spreading melanoma, characterized by intraepidermal large nests. However, the clinical, dermoscopic, and confocal aspects have been depicted only partially.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our cases series, nested melanoma was a flat, irregularly shaped lesion with variably pigmented and irregularly distributed globules on dermoscopic examination. Confocal microscopy revealed the presence of a "clod" pattern made of large compact nests with variable atypia. These findings correlated well with histopathologic features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nested melanoma of the elderly should be included in the differential diagnosis when a flat pigmented lesion, showing dermoscopically an irregular globular pattern, is seen in a patient older than 60 years.
authors.affiliation: Units of Dermatology and Skin Cancer, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalaudek
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piana
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.forename: Aimilios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lallas
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reggiani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology