title: Clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological features of melanocytic nevi in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) nevi are acquired pigmented melanocytic lesions which may have clinical and dermoscopic features quite similar to those found in melanoma. More detailed information on this phenomenon is still lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological features of melanocytic lesions in 13 patients with dystrophic EB (DEB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients underwent clinical and dermoscopic evaluation. Suspicious lesions were excised and examined microscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 12 cases of recessive DEB and one of dominant DEB. Five patients were men; 8 were women; the ages ranged from 2 to 27 years old. All patients had at least 2 atypical melanocytic lesions. Two of the 5 biopsied patients showed an atypical nevus or lentigo on histopathological examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a high incidence of large and atypical melanocytic lesions in DEB patients. Although the exact explanation for this is still unclear, it seems that re-epithelization and the chronic inflammatory process may stimulate the proliferation of melanocytes, as well as the emergence of lesions with atypical clinical and dermoscopic features. As an unequivocal discrimination from malignant melanoma in vivo is not always possible, regular clinical follow-up and histopathological evaluation of suspicious lesions in EB patients are mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Dumêt
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rivitti-Machado
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Rocha
authors.forename: Zilda Najjar P
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D046169:Dermoscopy; D016108:Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult