title: Glowing in the dark: case report of a clue-poor melanoma unmasked by polarized dermatoscopy.
abstract: We report a case of a melanoma arising in a congenital-type compound nevus, which was excised because it was observed by both the patient and the treating dermatologist to have changed. Because the lesion was routinely photo-documented with both polarized and non-polarized dermatoscopy images prior to excision, these images were available for subsequent examination. Matched images are presented in what appears to be unique in the published literature: polarizing-specific white lines are identified as a compelling clue to the diagnosis of melanoma in a lesion that contains no clues apparent in the non-polarized image. Dermatopathology images reveal that the melanoma is arising in conjunction with a congenital type nevus. As expected, dermatoscopic polarizing-specific white lines are evident on the melanoma but not the nevus, and while a possible explanation is discussed, this remains speculative.
authors: The Skin Clinic, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Yoon K
authors: YK
authors: Cohen
authors: The Skin Clinic, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Elpern
authors: Department of Dermatology and Section of Dermatopathology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Deon
authors: D
authors: Wolpowitz
authors: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Cliff
authors: C
authors: Rosendahl
keywords: BLINCK algorithm; chaos and clues algorithm; chrysalis; congenital-type nevus; dermatopathology; melanoma; nevus; polarized dermatoscopy; polarized dermoscopy; polarizing-specific white lines