Clinical and dermoscopic stability and volatility of melanocytic nevi in a population-based cohort of children in framingham school system

Alon Scope, Stephen W. Dusza, Ashfaq A. Marghoob, Jaya M. Satagopan, Juliana Braga Casagrande Tavoloni, Estee L. Psaty, Martin A. Weinstock, Susan A. Oliveria, Marilyn Bishop, Alan C. Geller, Allan C. Halpern*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nevi are important risk markers of melanoma. The study aim was to describe changes in nevi of children using longitudinal data from a population-based cohort. Overview back photography and dermoscopic imaging of up to 4 index back nevi was performed at age 11 years (baseline) and repeated at age 14 years (follow-up). Of 443 children (39% females) imaged at baseline, 366 children (39% females) had repeated imaging 3 years later. At age 14, median back nevus counts increased by two; 75% of students (n274) had at least one new back nevus and 28% (n103) had at least one nevus that disappeared. Of 936 index nevi imaged dermoscopically at baseline and follow-up, 69% (645 nevi) had retained the same dermoscopic classification from baseline evaluation. Only 4% (n13) of nevi assessed as globular at baseline were classified as reticular at follow-up, and just 3% (n3) of baseline reticular nevi were classified as globular at follow-up. Of 9 (1%) index nevi that disappeared at follow-up, none showed halo or regression at baseline. In conclusion, the relative stability of dermoscopic pattern of individual nevi in the face of the overall volatility of nevi during adolescence suggests that specific dermoscopic patterns may represent distinct biological nevus subsets.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1615-1621
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume131
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2011
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Framingham School Nevus Study
NIH/NIAMSAR049342-02

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