Clinical and dermoscopic features of small Reed nevus (<6 mm)

Abstract

Background: The differential diagnosis between Reed nevi and melanoma becomes more difficult if the lesion to analyse presents a small size, with a diameter of 6 mm or smaller. Many studies have reported various dermoscopic features of Reed nevi during their growth phases. In early stages of evolution, the lesions generally show a characteristic globular appearance typically found in childhood, followed by the so-called starburst pattern.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the main dermoscopic features in small Reed nevi (<6 mm in size).

Methods: Using a computerized skin-imaging database for melanoma prevention surgery at the Department of Dermatology of the University of Florence, 15 Reed nevi were selected among 103 small (<6 mm) melanocytic lesions consecutively excised. Images of small Reed nevi, independently blinded to histopathological diagnosis, were administered to a dermatologist expert in dermoscopy, who separately examined the clinical and the dermatoscopic images of small Reed nevi and evaluated their clinical and dermoscopic parameters.

Results: Analysis of the main dermoscopic patterns showed that 40% had a reticular pattern, 20% had a starburst pattern, 6.5% had a globular pattern, 6.5% had a homogeneous pattern and 27% had an atypical pattern.

Conclusion: We propose that small, early-stage Reed nevus are not characterized by an evolution of growth patterns to a phenotype typical of larger lesions. We assume that the patterns are distributed in a linear manner between age groups, may all be present at the outset and thus are independent from the various stages of nevus development.