The morphologic universe of melanoma.
Differentiating dysplastic nevi from melanoma remains one of the main objectives of dermoscopy. Melanomas tend not to manifest any of the benign patterns described for nevi and instead usually display chaotic dermoscopic morphologies. Melanomas located on the face, chronically sun-damaged skin, volar surfaces, nails, and mucosal surfaces have additional features that can assist in their identification. However, some melanomas lack any defined dermoscopic structures. These so-called featureless melanomas can be identified via digital surveillance. This article reviews the melanoma-specific structures as a function of anatomic location (ie, melanomas on nonglabrous skin, face, volar surfaces, mucosae, and nails).
Dermatology Service, Aurora Skin Cancer Center and Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Cra. 25 # 1 A Sur 155, Ed. Platinum Superior. CS 342, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: njaimeslo@gmail.com.
Natalia
N
Jaimes
Ashfaq A
AA
Marghoob
D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
Acral melanoma; Dermoscopy; Lentigo maligna; Melanoma; Melanoma specific-structures; Mucosal melanoma; Nail melanoma; Non-glabrous skin