Dermoscopic Evaluation of Amelanotic and Hypomelanotic Melanoma
Year: 2008
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive dermoscopic features of amelanotic and hypomelanotic melanoma. DESIGN: A total of 105 melanomas (median Breslow thickness, 0.76 mm), 170 benign melanocytic lesions, and 222 nonmelanocytic lesions lacking significant pigment (amelanotic, partially pigmented, and light colored) were imaged using glass-plate dermoscopy devices and scored for 99 dermoscopic features. Diagnostic models were derived from and tested on independent randomly selected lesions. SETTING: Predominantly hospital-based clinics from 5 continents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratios for individual features and models for the diagnosis of melanoma and malignancy. RESULTS: The most significant negative predictors of melanoma were having multiple (>3) milialike cysts (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.64), comma vessels with a regular distribution (0.10; 0.01-0.70), comma vessels as the predominant vessel type (0.16; 0.05-0.52), symmetrical pigmentation pattern (0.18; 0.09-0.39), irregular blue-gray globules (0.20; 0.05-0.87), and multiple blue-gray globules (0.28; 0.10-0.81). The most significant positive predictors were having a blue-white veil (odds ratio,13; 95% confidence interval, 3.9-40.0), scarlike depigmentation (4.4; 2.4-8.0), multiple blue-gray dots (3.5; 1.9-6.4), irregularly shaped depigmentation (3.3; 2.0-5.3), irregular brown dots/globules (3.2; 1.8-5.6), 5 to 6 colors (3.2; 1.6-6.3), and predominant central vessels (3.1; 1.6-6.0). A simple model distinguishing melanomas from all nonmelanomas had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 56% in the test set. A model distinguishing all malignant lesions from benign lesions had a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 37%. Conclusion Although the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy for melanoma lacking significant pigment is inferior to that of more pigmented lesions, features distinguishing the former from benign lesions can be visualized on dermoscopic evaluation.
Source: Archives of Dermatology
Authors: Scott W. Menzies, Juergen Kreusch, Karen Byth, Maria A. Pizzichetta, Ashfaq Marghoob, Ralph Braun, Josep Malvehy, Susana Puig, Giuseppe Argenziano, Iris Zalaudek, Harold S. Rabinovitz, Margaret Oliviero, Horacio Cabo, Verena Ahlgrimm-Siess, Michelle Avramidis, Pascale Guitera, H. Peter Soyer, Giovanni Ghigliotti, Masaru Tanaka, Ana M. Perusquia, Gianluca Pagnanelli, Riccardo Bono, Luc Thomas, Giovanni Pellacani, David Langford, Domenico Piccolo, Karin Terstappen, Ignazio Stanganelli, Alex Llambrich, Robert Johr
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2026308024