Background: Digital dermoscopy monitoring (DDM) is an effective strategy for melanoma detection. Two methods are currently employed. Short-term follow-up (STFU) for the evaluation of single, atypical lesions to detect subtle changes over a short period of time (3-6 months). Long-term follow-up (LTFU) is recommended for patients with multiple nevi. Although a study demonstrated that STFU improves the patients' compliance for DDM, little remains known about the impact and reliability of STFU in this setting. Objectives: The aim of this retrospective, observational study was to evaluate the impact and reliability of a schedule combining STFU and LTFU in patients with multiple atypical nevi. Methods: We searched our database for all cases of patients with multiple atypical nevi occurring between 2006 and 2014. Results: A total of 3823 lesions in 541 patients were dermoscopically monitored (mean number = 7 lesions per patient; median = 6 lesions; range, 2-51). In all, 264 (6.9%) lesions in 184 (34.4%) patients were excised (mean of 0.5 lesions per patient). In total, 197 (74.6%) lesions were excised at follow-up, with melanomas representing 30.5% of lesions excised after follow-up. A total of 30 (33.3%) melanomas were excised at baseline, 23 (25.6%) after STFU and 37 (41.1%) after LTFU. There was no difference in the number of in situ melanomas detected at baseline with those detected after follow-up. The mean Breslow thickness of melanomas detected at baseline was higher than those detected after STFU (P = 0.038) and LTFU (P = 0.055). Conclusions: Our study confirm that digital dermoscopy follow-up is a valid management strategy for patients with multiple atypical nevi, with short-term monitoring playing an effective role also in this setting of patients.

Both short-term and long-term dermoscopy monitoring is useful in detecting melanoma in patients with multiple atypical nevi / Moscarella, E; Tion, I.; Zalaudek, I.; Lallas, A.; Kyrgidis, A.; Longo, C.; Lombardi, M.; Raucci, M.; Satta, Rosanna Rita; Alfano, R.; Argenziano, G.. - In: JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY. - ISSN 0926-9959. - 31:2(2016), pp. 1-5. [10.1111/jdv.13840]

Both short-term and long-term dermoscopy monitoring is useful in detecting melanoma in patients with multiple atypical nevi

SATTA, Rosanna Rita;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Background: Digital dermoscopy monitoring (DDM) is an effective strategy for melanoma detection. Two methods are currently employed. Short-term follow-up (STFU) for the evaluation of single, atypical lesions to detect subtle changes over a short period of time (3-6 months). Long-term follow-up (LTFU) is recommended for patients with multiple nevi. Although a study demonstrated that STFU improves the patients' compliance for DDM, little remains known about the impact and reliability of STFU in this setting. Objectives: The aim of this retrospective, observational study was to evaluate the impact and reliability of a schedule combining STFU and LTFU in patients with multiple atypical nevi. Methods: We searched our database for all cases of patients with multiple atypical nevi occurring between 2006 and 2014. Results: A total of 3823 lesions in 541 patients were dermoscopically monitored (mean number = 7 lesions per patient; median = 6 lesions; range, 2-51). In all, 264 (6.9%) lesions in 184 (34.4%) patients were excised (mean of 0.5 lesions per patient). In total, 197 (74.6%) lesions were excised at follow-up, with melanomas representing 30.5% of lesions excised after follow-up. A total of 30 (33.3%) melanomas were excised at baseline, 23 (25.6%) after STFU and 37 (41.1%) after LTFU. There was no difference in the number of in situ melanomas detected at baseline with those detected after follow-up. The mean Breslow thickness of melanomas detected at baseline was higher than those detected after STFU (P = 0.038) and LTFU (P = 0.055). Conclusions: Our study confirm that digital dermoscopy follow-up is a valid management strategy for patients with multiple atypical nevi, with short-term monitoring playing an effective role also in this setting of patients.
2016
Both short-term and long-term dermoscopy monitoring is useful in detecting melanoma in patients with multiple atypical nevi / Moscarella, E; Tion, I.; Zalaudek, I.; Lallas, A.; Kyrgidis, A.; Longo, C.; Lombardi, M.; Raucci, M.; Satta, Rosanna Rita; Alfano, R.; Argenziano, G.. - In: JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY. - ISSN 0926-9959. - 31:2(2016), pp. 1-5. [10.1111/jdv.13840]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/164770
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