title: Dermoscopic features predicting the presence of mitoses in thin melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The latest AJCC classification has included the number of mitoses as a factor for upstaging thin melanomas. Meanwhile, while dermoscopy has often been used to predict melanoma thickness, its value in predicting number of mitoses remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim is to evaluate the correlation between dermoscopic features and the presence of mitoses in a consecutive cohort of thin melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case control study has been performed to identify specific dermoscopic parameters that could differentiate thin melanomas with 1 or more mitoses per mm2 from those without mitoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 177 melanomas equal to or thinner than 1mm, 131 (74%) lesions had no mitoses and 46 (36%) lesions had at least 1 mitosis×mm2. Dermoscopic features associated with the presence of 1 or more mitoses were the following: peripheral streaks (OR 4.11; 95% CI 1.94-8.71) and black colour (OR 4.70; 95% CI; 2.28-9.68). In contrast, atypical pigment network (OR (0.30; 95% CI 0.15-0.61)) and brown colour (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.18-0.75) were associated to melanomas without mitoses. The same variables were also associated to the increasing number of mitoses at linear regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Black colour and peripheral streaks can predict the presence of mitoses in thin melanoma, while atypical pigment network and brown colour are associated to thin melanoma without mitoses.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: simone.ribero@unito.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribero
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Italy; Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.affiliation: First Department of Dermatology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lallas
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moscarella
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benati
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raucci
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piana
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003116:Color; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Dermoscopy; Melanoma; Mitosis