title: Dermoscopic features of nail matrix nevus (NMN) in adults and children: A comparative analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nail matrix nevus (NMN) is one cause of longitudinal melanonychia. The typical dermoscopic patterns of NMNs are well established. However, little is known about how the dermoscopic characteristics of NMNs differ between adults and children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to compare the dermoscopic characteristics of NMNs between adults and children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients in whom NMN was diagnosed between 2005 and 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dermoscopic findings of 58 NMNs from 56 children and 35 NMNs from 34 adults were analyzed. Pigmentation tended to be broader in children, without statistical significance (P = .062). Moreover, NMNs in children were darker and multicolored (P < .001). Pseudo-Hutchinson sign (P = .004), triangular sign (P = .001), and dots/globules (P = .004) were detected more commonly in children. An irregular pattern and Hutchinson sign were also found more frequently in children, without statistical significance (P = .071 and P = .249, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a retrospective study in a tertiary-level hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dermoscopic findings showed that NMNs have more melanoma-associated features in children than in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jungyoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: jehomun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Je-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Mun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adults; children; dermoscopy; melanonychia; nail matrix nevus; onychoscopy