TY - JOUR
T1 - Objective follow-up of atypical melanocytic skin lesions
T2 - A retrospective study
AU - Rubegni, Pietro
AU - Cevenini, Gabriele
AU - Burroni, Marco
AU - Bono, Riccardo
AU - Sbano, Paolo
AU - Biagioli, Maurizio
AU - Risulo, Massimiliano
AU - Nami, Niccolò
AU - Perotti, Roberto
AU - Miracco, Clelia
AU - Fimiani, Michele
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Various authors have suggested that information from longitudinal observation (follow-up) of dynamic changes in atypical melanocytic pigmented skin lesions (MPSL) could enable identification of early malignant melanoma escaping initial observation due to an absence of specific clinical and dermoscopic features. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the existence of numerical variables regarding changes in MPSL that could be useful to differentiate early melanomas and atypical nevi. The study was carried out in two Italian dermatology Centres. Digital dermoscopy analyzers (DB-Mips System) were used to evaluate dermoscopic images of 94 equivocal pigmented skin lesions under observation for 6-12 months and then excised because of changes across time (29 melanomas and 65 nevi). The analyzer evaluates 49 parameters grouped into four categories: geometries, colours, textures and islands of colour. The ROC curve designed on the 49 digital dermoscopy analysis parameters showed good accuracy. At sensitivity (SE) = specificity (SP), it correctly classified 89.3% of cases. When objective pigmented skin lesion parameters were considered together with their objective changes over 6-12 months, a decisive increase in discrimination capacity was obtained. At SE = SP accuracy was 96.3%. Analysis of the parameters of our model and statistical analysis enabled us to interpret/identify the most significant factors of modification and differentiation of lesions, providing quantitative insights into the diagnosis of equivocal MPSL and demonstrating the utility of objective/numerical follow-up.
AB - Various authors have suggested that information from longitudinal observation (follow-up) of dynamic changes in atypical melanocytic pigmented skin lesions (MPSL) could enable identification of early malignant melanoma escaping initial observation due to an absence of specific clinical and dermoscopic features. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the existence of numerical variables regarding changes in MPSL that could be useful to differentiate early melanomas and atypical nevi. The study was carried out in two Italian dermatology Centres. Digital dermoscopy analyzers (DB-Mips System) were used to evaluate dermoscopic images of 94 equivocal pigmented skin lesions under observation for 6-12 months and then excised because of changes across time (29 melanomas and 65 nevi). The analyzer evaluates 49 parameters grouped into four categories: geometries, colours, textures and islands of colour. The ROC curve designed on the 49 digital dermoscopy analysis parameters showed good accuracy. At sensitivity (SE) = specificity (SP), it correctly classified 89.3% of cases. When objective pigmented skin lesion parameters were considered together with their objective changes over 6-12 months, a decisive increase in discrimination capacity was obtained. At SE = SP accuracy was 96.3%. Analysis of the parameters of our model and statistical analysis enabled us to interpret/identify the most significant factors of modification and differentiation of lesions, providing quantitative insights into the diagnosis of equivocal MPSL and demonstrating the utility of objective/numerical follow-up.
KW - Dermoscopy
KW - Digital dermoscopy
KW - Melanoma
KW - Multivariate analysis
KW - Pigmented skin lesions
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U2 - 10.1007/s00403-010-1051-6
DO - 10.1007/s00403-010-1051-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 20411393
AN - SCOPUS:77955560372
VL - 302
SP - 551
EP - 560
JO - Archives of Dermatological Research
JF - Archives of Dermatological Research
SN - 0340-3696
IS - 7
ER -