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Cutaneous melanomas associated with nevi.
Caroline Bevona1, William Goggins, Timothy Quinn
1Melanoma Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hsopital, Boston, 02114, USA.
Archives of Dermatology
|December 17, 2003
Summary
Melanoma rarely arises adjacent to a nevus. Younger age, superficial spreading melanoma, and trunk location are key predictors for melanoma developing next to a nevus.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Melanoma can arise in association with a nevus.
- Understanding the factors associated with melanoma contiguous with nevi is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of melanomas histologically contiguous with nevi.
- To identify histologic and clinical factors associated with this association.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pathology reports for 1606 melanomas diagnosed between 1993 and 1997.
- Analysis of histologic features (subtype, Breslow thickness, Clark level) and clinical factors (age, sex, location).
Main Results:
- Twenty-six percent of melanomas were histologically associated with nevi.
- Younger age, superficial spreading subtype, and truncal location were significantly associated with melanoma-nevus contiguity.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed younger age, superficial spreading subtype, and truncal location as independent predictors.
Conclusions:
- Most melanomas do not arise in direct histologic continuity with a nevus.
- Younger age, superficial spreading melanoma subtype, and truncal location are significant independent predictors of melanoma-nevus association.