title: Dermoscopic Changes of Melanocytic Nevi after Psoralen-Ultraviolet A and Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Phototherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phototherapy may alter the morphologic features of melanocytic nevi. Dermoscopy is a non-invasive method for evaluation of skin lesions, specifically melanocytic nevi.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the effects of narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) and psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy on the dermoscopic features of nevi.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 74 melanocytic nevi were randomly selected from 20 patients. Out of those, 54 nevi received NB-UVB, while 20 received PUVA. 50% of the nevi in each group were exposed to radiation, while the remaining nevi were covered with an opaque tape. All nevi were demoscopically evaluated before and after 30 or 60 sessions of phototherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall demoscopic changes were observed in 34/37 (91.8%) of the uncovered nevi compared to 16/37 (43.2%) of the covered nevi (P value 0.0001). The most common changes were new dot/globule formation (62.1%), darkening (32.4%), nevus enlargement (27%), and patchy pigmentation (18.8%). Compared to NB-UVB, dermoscopic changes were more frequent in both covered and uncovered nevi of the PUVA group. (P values 0.041 and 0.0172, respectively). New dot/globule formation was observed more frequently in the covered and uncovered nevi of PUVA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PUVA and NB-UVB induce dermoscopic changes in the majority of the irradiated nevi. However, PUVA is associated with higher frequency of dermoscopic changes in both covered and uncovered nevi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hayedeh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghani-Nejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hallaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maede Rayati
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Damavandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahide
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lajevardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nessa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghazadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moeini
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beigi
keywords: Dermoscopy; NB-UVB; PUVA; melanocytic nevi