title: Dermoscopic and clinical features of head and neck melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dermoscopic criteria of extrafacial melanomas are well-known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of dermatoscopic findings in head and neck melanomas (HNM) and to assess the distinguishing dermoscopic criteria of facial and extrafacial melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study included 108 patients with HNM (63% male, mean age 64 years). Participants underwent individual dermoscopic imaging of clinically melanoma. All lesions were excised, and histopathological examination was performed on all specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drawing on histopathological analysis, lentigo maligna melanoma or lentigo maligna was diagnosed in 60 lesions, superficial spreading melanoma in 18, nodular in 10, desmoplastic in 8, superficial spreading melanoma in situ in 12. The most frequent location for head and neck melanoma was the cheek (60 patients, 55.6%). Eight prominent dermatoscopic features were observed in facial melanoma: annular-granular pattern (18%); rhomboidal structures (29%); pseudonetwork (29%); asymmetrical, pigmented, follicular openings (51%); obliterated hair follicles (8%); red rhomboidal structures (18%); increased density of the vascular network (32%); scar-like depigmentation (59%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HNM has specific dermoscopic features, and classical extrafacial dermoscopic rules are less useful for diagnosis of facial melanoma. In our study, further characteristic dermatoscopic findings were detected in facial melanoma such as low frequencies of irregular dots, 2 or fewer colors in lesions, the presence of pseudonetwork, increased density of the vascular network, red rhomboidal structures, in addition to dermatoscopic findings of extrafacial melanoma. Thus, it is concluded that the prediction and identification of HNM may be evident with the help of these signs.
authors.affiliation: Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, TR.
authors.forename: Fatma Pelin
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Kars State Hospital, Kars, TR.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman Bugra
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, TR.
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emiroglu
authors.affiliation: Turkey, Ankara, TR.
authors.forename: Ela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Graz, Graz, AT.
authors.forename: Rainer Hofmann
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wellenhof
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002610:Cheek / Q000473:pathology; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*