ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Free access

Italian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2022 October;157(5):441-7

DOI: 10.23736/S2784-8671.22.07262-0

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Dermoscopic features of nevoid melanoma: a retrospective study

Francesco BELLINATO ✉, Paolo ROSINA, Marco ZARATTINI, Paolo GISONDI, Giampiero GIROLOMONI

Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

BACKGROUND: Nevoid melanoma (NeM) is a rare variant of melanoma resembling melanocytic nevus. The aim of the study was to systematically review the dermoscopic features of NeM.
METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted. Dermoscopic features of NeMs diagnosed through excisional biopsy between January 2015 1, and March 1, 2021, were compared to superficial spreading melanomas (SSMs) matched by Breslow’s thickness. Then, a literature search was performed. Electronic searches on PubMed database via Medline were conducted to retrieve any manuscript reporting detailed dermoscopic features of histopathologically confirmed NeM.
RESULTS: A total of 60 malignant melanomas (MM) comprising 20 NeM and 40 SSM were collected. Twelve out of 20 (60%) NeM showed a nevus-like appearance, including reticular and globular patterns, and in 35% of these cases it was detected because of dermoscopic changes. Then, a total of seven original manuscripts were retrieved from the literature review, comprising 56 cases overall. NeM showed nevus-like pattern in 53% of the cases, multicomponent pattern in 21% and amelanotic in 9%. Enlargement, irregularly distributed dots/globules, irregular pigmentation, and atypical vascular pattern were found in NeM with nevus-like appearance. NeM with multicomponent pattern were characterized by irregular pigmentation, blue-white veil, irregular dots and atypical vascular pattern. Amelanotic NeM is rare and show atypical vascular pattern and milia-like cysts.
CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy of NeM is challenging as it frequently shows a nevus-like pattern, but clues and detection of dermoscopic changes may help to identify it.

KEY WORDS: Dermoscopy; Melanoma; Nevus