title: Dermoscopy of acral melanoma: a multicenter study on behalf of the international dermoscopy society.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most studies on dermoscopy of acral lesions were conducted in Asian populations. In this study, we analyzed these features in a predominantly Caucasian population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Estimate the prevalence of dermoscopic features in acral lesions, and assess their level of agreement between observers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective multicenter study, 167 acral lesions (66 melanomas) were evaluated for 13 dermoscopic patterns by 26 physicians, via a secured Internet platform.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parallel furrow pattern, bizarre pattern, and diffuse pigmentation with variable shades of brown had the highest prevalence. The agreement for lesion patterns between physicians was variable. Agreement was dependent on the level of diagnostic difficulty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lesions with a diameter >1 cm were more likely to be melanoma. We found as well that a benign pattern can be seen in parts of melanomas. For this reason one should evaluate an acral lesion for the presence of malignant patterns first.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ralph P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Dusza
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gaide
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menzies
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalle
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalaudek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabinovitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oliviero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrinaud
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cabo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizzichetta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saida
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Perusquia Ortiz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreusch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grichnik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kittler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malvehy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seidenari
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanganelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Marghoob
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001706:Biopsy; D046169:Dermoscopy; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D044465:White People