Trajectories of Nevus Development From Age 3 to 16 Years in the Colorado Kids Sun Care Program Cohort

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Nevi are a risk factor for melanoma and other forms of skin cancer, and many of the same factors confer risk for both. Understanding childhood nevus development may provide clues to possible causes and prevention of melanoma.OBJECTIVES To describe nevus acquisition from the ages of 3 to 16 years among white youths and evaluate variation by sex, Hispanic ethnicity, and body sites that are chronically vs intermittently exposed to the sun. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This annual longitudinal observational cohort study of nevus development was conducted between June 1, 2001, and October 31, 2014, among 1085 Colorado youths. Data analysis was conducted between February 1, 2015, and August 31, 2017.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Total nevus counts on all body sites and on sites chronically and intermittently exposed to the sun separately. RESULTS A total of 557 girls and 528 boys (150 [13.8%] Hispanic participants) born in 1998 were included in this study. Median total body nevus counts increased linearly among non-Hispanic white boys and girls between the age of 3 years (boys, 6.31; 95% CI, 5.66-7.03; and girls, 6.61; 95% CI, 5.96-7.33) and the age of 16 years (boys, 81.30; 95% CI, and girls, 77.58; 95% CI,. Median total body nevus counts were lower among Hispanic white children (boys aged 16 years, 51.45; 95% CI, 44.01-60.15; and girls aged 16 years, 53.75; 95% CI, 45.40-63.62) compared with non-Hispanic white children, but they followed a largely linear trend that varied by sex. Nevus counts on body sites chronically exposed to the sun increased over time but leveled off by the age of 16 years. Nevus counts on sites intermittently exposed to the sun followed a strong linear pattern through the age of 16 years. Hispanic white boys and girls had similar nevus counts on sites intermittently exposed to the sun through the age of 10 years, but increases thereafter were steeper for girls, with nevus counts surpassing those of boys aged 11 to 16 years.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Youths are at risk for nevus development beginning in early childhood and continuing through midadolescence. Patterns of nevus acquisition differ between boys and girls, Hispanic and non-Hispanic white youths, and body sites that are chronically exposed to the sun and body sites that are intermittently exposed to the sun. Exposure to UV light during this period should be reduced, particularly on body sites intermittently exposed to the sun, where nevi accumulate through midadolescence in all children. Increased attention to sun protection appears to be merited for boys, in general, because they accumulated more nevi overall, and for girls, specifically, during the adolescent years.

A practical review of dermoscopy for pediatric dermatology part I: Melanocytic growths

“…Dermoscopic discussion of acquired nevi (AN) requires an understanding of nevogenesis and nevus evolution. AN begin to appear during the first decade of life and increase in number during adolescence 45 . During childhood, AN most frequently have a globular pattern on dermoscopy and are located on the torso, head, and neck 46 .…”

Genetically determined cutaneous nevi and risk of cancer

“…1 The propensity for nevus development is strongly genetically determined, 2,3 although sun exposure during childhood clearly plays a role. 4,5 Nevi are the strongest phenotypic risk factors for melanoma, 6 and they have also been associated with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but not squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). 7,8 Several large cohort studies have reported positive associations between higher nevus counts and internal cancers including breast 9,10 and thyroid.…”

“…They are commonly acquired in childhood and adolescence and can regress and disappear during adulthood 1 . The propensity for nevus development is strongly genetically determined, 2,3 although sun exposure during childhood clearly plays a role 4,5 . Nevi are the strongest phenotypic risk factors for melanoma, 6 and they have also been associated with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but not squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) 7,8 …”