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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Dermoscopic patterns and subclinical melanocytic nests in normal-appearing skin
A Scope1, A A Marghoob, C S Chen
1Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10022, USA.
Background:
Dermoscopic patterns of normal-appearing skin have received little scrutiny. We have recently completed an analysis of dermoscopic patterns of naevi in children.
Objectives:
To describe dermoscopic patterns in the normal-appearing skin surrounding naevi and to explore histological features of patterned background skin.
Methods:
Dermoscopic images of back naevi were obtained from a population-based sample of fifth grade students. The dermoscopic pattern of the background skin around the naevi was analysed. We examined histopathological features of background skin patterns in a convenience sample of seven specimens from six adult patients.
Results:
We observed a dermoscopic pattern in the background of normal-appearing skin in 41% of 1192 dermoscopic images from the backs of the 443 children. The background skin pattern was less frequent in individuals with a fair skin (P < 0.001). A globular pattern was observed in 201 images (17%) and a reticular pattern was seen in 287 images (24%), of which 112 images also showed globules. Inter-rater reliability between the two observers for a random sample of 100 images was excellent (kappa = 0.77). In four specimens with a globular background pattern, microscopic melanocytic nests were observed in the normal-appearing skin. No subclinical naevus nests were observed in three reticular pattern specimens.
Conclusions:
Dermoscopically recognized patterns are commonly present in clinically normal skin of children. Microscopic melanocytic nests may be observed in normal-appearing skin with a globular skin pattern.
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