Dermoscopy of melanoma according to different body sites: Head and neck, trunk, limbs, nail, mucosal and acral

Abstract

Effective cancer screening detects early‐stage tumours, leading to a lower incidence of late‐stage disease over time. Dermoscopy is the gold standard for skin cancer diagnosis as diagnostic accuracy is improved compared to naked eye examinations. As melanoma dermoscopic features are often body site specific, awareness of common features according to their location is imperative for improved melanoma diagnostic accuracy. Several criteria have been identified according to the anatomical location of the melanoma. This review provides a comprehensive and contemporary review of dermoscopic melanoma criteria according to specific body sites, including frequently observed melanoma of the head/neck, trunk and limbs and special site melanomas, located on the nail, mucosal and acral region.

Pattern Analysis of Benign and Malignant Atypical Melanocytic Skin Lesions of Palms and Soles: Variations of Dermoscopic Features According to Anatomic Site and Personal Experience

“…The differential diagnosis of benign and malignant MPPLs is not always easy, even with the dermatoscope, and thus, they are defined as melanocytic proliferation at “special site” [ 23 , 33 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. It is possible to affirm that this is a challenging diagnosis, indirectly, based on two data: first, the late diagnosis of palmoplantar melanomas and the high misdiagnosis rate [ 20 , 21 ]; second, the high number of excisions/biopsies of benign nevi on soles and palms [ 18 , 30 , 38 , 42 ].…”

“…The participant should assess the presence/absence of a panel of 12 dermoscopic patterns ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 ). This list includes dermoscopic structures that are the most frequently reported in studies, suggesting either malignancy or benignity, based on literature data: asymmetry of structures, asymmetry of colors, parallel ridge pattern, irregular blotches, regression structures, blue-white veil, irregular streaks, irregular diffuse pigmentation, irregular fibrillar pattern, parallel furrow pattern, regular fibrillar pattern, lattice-like pattern [ 4 , 7 , 14 , 23 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. In order to facilitate the comprehension of a given dermoscopic criterion, a link was accessible in each test page reporting both the established dermoscopic criteria description and an exemplificative dermoscopic picture.…”

“…Dermoscopy is nowadays the most common technique for non-invasive imaging in dermatology, able to provide a “radiography” of pigmented skin lesions through a polarized light source that reaches the dermal–epidermal junction [ 22 ]. Many studies were carried out in recent decades aimed at describing and validating a series of dermoscopic criteria helpful in the diagnosis of melanoma arising at different body sites [ 23 , 24 ], clearly showing how the anatomic location condition the dermoscopic features of melanoma on the body [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], face [ 26 ], mucosae [ 23 ], and palmoplantar/acral surfaces [ 27 ]. Based on this knowledge, corresponding dermoscopic checklists/approaches were derived (e.g., ABCD rules, Menzies method, Chaos and clues, 3-point/7-point checklist) [ 14 ].…”