Dermatoscopic and Videomicroscopic Features of Melanocytic Plantar Nevi

Abstract

Nearly 10% of Japanese people have pigmented nevi on the soles. Since malignant melanoma also occurs on the plantar area in the Japanese, it would be very valuable to be able to differentiate benign and malignant lesions in the early clinical state. We have investigated the epiluminescence microscopic features of 500 melanocytic nevi on the soles of Japanese people using a dermatoscope and a videomicroscope that can magnify lesions from x 10 to x 200. The results showed that the surface profile of benign melanocytic nevi is mainly classified into five types; that 9% of plantar nevi, however, do not fit into this classification and are categorized as a miscellaneous type; and that the other nonmelanocytic disorders, such as verruca vulgaris and black heel, are easily differentiated by their surface profile. More important, the histological examination showed that atypical nevi, malignant melanoma in situ, and acral lentiginous melanoma are exclusively compartmentalized in the miscellaneous type of surface profile. Our data suggested that epiluminescence microscopy may be a useful method for discrimination of plantar benign and malignant melanocytic lesions.

Characteristic Epiluminescent Microscopic Features of Early Malignant Melanoma on Glabrous Skin

“…Similar findings of melanocytic nevi on glabrous skin have been reported by other investigators using a dermatoscope or a videomicroscope. 13 The most important finding in this study is that all but 1 lesion of malignant melanoma in situ exhibited a unique epiluminescent feature, namely the parallel ridge pattern showing accentuated pigmentation on the ridges of the skin markings. This feature was not detected in any lesions of benign melanocytic nevus, and thus, the specificity of the finding was 100%.…”

Dermoscopic Patterns of Acral Melanocytic Nevi and Melanomas in a White Population in Central Italy

“…[5][6][7] Specific dermoscopic patterns of nevi and melanomas located on the palms and soles were initially described in Japanese studies showing that dermoscopic examination can increase accuracy in the diagnosis of pigmented acral melanocytic skin lesions. [8][9][10][11][12] Acral melanoma was described as having a multicomponent dermoscopic pattern, characterized by the following features: parallel ridge pattern, irregular diffuse pigmentation, abrupt edges, serrated pattern, peripheral irregular dots and globules, and/or blue-white veil. [9][10][11][12] The presence of the parallel ridge pattern, in which pigmentation is seen on the ridges of the skin markings, was associated with acral melanoma in situ, and the presence of irregular diffuse pigmentation was considered highly suggestive of invasive acral melanoma.…”

Variations in the Dermoscopic Features of Acquired Acral Melanocytic Nevi

“…In people of color, the acral area is the most common site of melanoma; therefore, dermoscopy has become useful to enhance the diagnosis of acral lesions in the Japanese population. [1][2][3][4][5] Others have studied acral nevi in the predominantly white populations of Spain and Italy. 6,7 In the present study, we investigate the dermoscopic features of acquired acral melanocytic nevi (AAMN) in the white population of Turkey.…”