The study of nevi in children: Principles learned and implications for melanoma diagnosis.
Melanocytic nevi are a strong phenotypic marker of cutaneous melanoma risk. Changes in nevi during childhood and adolescence make these prime periods for studying nevogenesis. Insights gained by the study of nevi in childhood have implications for melanoma detection in both adults and children. A more comprehensive understanding of the morphologic characteristics of nevi in different anatomic locations, in association with the patient's age and pigmentary phenotype may aid in the identification of melanomas. When monitoring melanocytic lesions over time, it is essential to differentiate normal from abnormal change. This review summarizes the rapidly expanding body of literature relevant to nevus phenotype, particularly in the context of our experience with the Study of Nevi in Children (SONIC) Project.
Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Department of Dermatology, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Alon
A
Scope
Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Michael A
MA
Marchetti
Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Ashfaq A
AA
Marghoob
Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Stephen W
SW
Dusza
Harvard School of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts.
Alan C
AC
Geller
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Jaya M
JM
Satagopan
Dermatoepidemiology Unit, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Dermatology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island; Departments of Dermatology and Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Martin A
MA
Weinstock
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Marianne
M
Berwick
Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: halperna@mskcc.org.
Allan C
AC
Halpern
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D046169:Dermoscopy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009506:Nevus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
adolescence; childhood; dermoscopy; detection; melanoma; nevi; nevogenesis