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The many faces of blue nevus: A clinicopathologic study
Author(s) -
Ferrara Gerardo,
Soyer H. Peter,
Malvehy Josep,
Piccolo Domenico,
Puig Susana,
Sopena Juan,
Zalaudek Iris,
Argenziano Giuseppe
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2006.00650.x
Subject(s) - blue nevus , dermatology , dermatoscopy , medicine , nevus , melanocytic nevus , pathology , homogeneous , superficial spreading melanoma , melanoma , blue light , physics , cancer research , thermodynamics , optics
Background: In recent years, several histopathologic variants of blue nevus have been identified, whose clinical and dermoscopic correlates need further clarification. Methods: A comparative evaluation of histopathologic and dermoscopic features was carried out on 52 melanocytic proliferations belonging to the morphologic spectrum of blue nevus. Results: On dermoscopy, all lesions showed a homogeneous, structureless pigment pattern, with a curious variety of colors (blue, white–blue, black, brown, and polychromatic). Histopathologically, the majority of blue lesions were common blue nevi (11/19); the majority of white–blue lesions were ‘hypochromic’ (sclerotic, hypomelanotic, and amelanotic) blue nevi (17/22); all the black lesions were ‘compound’ blue nevi (2/2); the majority of brown lesions were combined blue nevi (3/4); the unusual polychromatic dermoscopic appearance was often associated with a histopathologic diagnosis of deep penetrating nevus (2/5). Conclusion: A dermoscopic–pathologic approach now allows us to identify ‘blue’ (common) blue nevi, ‘white’ (hypochromic) blue nevi, ‘black’ (compound) blue nevi, ‘brown’ (combined) blue nevi, and ‘polychromatic’ (deep penetrating) blue nevi. A better recognition of the many dermoscopic faces of blue nevi is expected to give a morphologic guideline for the clinical management of these lesions.