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Clinical, dermoscopy and histological correlation study of melanotic pigmentations in excision scars of melanocytic tumours
Author(s) -
BotellaEstrada R.,
Nagore E.,
Sopena J.,
Cremades A.,
Alfaro A.,
Sanmartín O.,
Requena C.,
SerraGuillén C.,
Guillén C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.07105.x
Subject(s) - medicine , scars , dermatoscopy , dermatology , pathology , melanoma , melanocytic nevus , nevus , pigmentation disorder , lesion , cancer research
Summary Background Melanotic pigmentations in scars consecutive to the excision of melanocytic tumours can be secondary to a reactive phenomenon related to the scar tissue or to a recurrence of the melanocytic lesion excised in the first case. Recurrent naevi may sometimes adopt unusual features that make them difficult to differentiate from a melanoma. Objectives To describe the clinical, dermoscopic and histological features of melanotic pigmentations in scars consecutive to the excision of melanocytic tumours, and to correlate the histological diagnosis with the dermoscopic features. Methods This was a prospective cohort study using macrophotography, dermoscopy and histopathological study. Ninety‐five melanotic pigmentations (77 patients) in scars secondary to the excision of melanocytic tumours were prospectively collected in the Department of Dermatology at the Instituto Valenciano de Oncología in Valencia, Spain. Histopathological study was performed in 57 scars. Results Thirteen dermoscopic structures were identified. Four criteria allowed a differentiation between reactive and specific melanocytic pigmentations. Presence of globules and presence of heterogeneous pigmentation were features associated with specific melanocytic pigmentations ( P < 0·0001). Presence of a regular network and presence of streaks were more frequently found in reactive pigmentations ( P = 0·023 and 0·026, respectively). Conclusions Dermoscopic examination of melanotic pigmentations in excision scars of melanocytic tumours provides useful information about the origin of that pigmentation. Based on such information, recurrent naevi can be differentiated from reactive pigmentations in most cases. Excision and histopathological diagnosis continue to be imperative in some cases of recurrent naevi with atypical clinical features.