Abstract
Introduction. Dermatoscopy as a non-invasive examination method enables early diagnosis of melanoma. Preoperative identification of melanoma thickness based on standard dermatoscopic criteria could be useful in planning surgical treatment.
Material and methodology. In this retrospective study of 92 primary cutaneous melanomas, dermatoscopic findings archived with the DermoGenius ultra digital dermatoscope were evaluated. The study is aimed at identifying standard dermatoscopic structures and colors in melanomas in situ (n = 26; 28%), melanomas with thickness of < 0.8 mm (n = 29; 32%), i.e. thin melanomas (n = 55; 60%), in the group of melanomas with thickness of 0.8–1.5 mm (n = 14; 15%) and melanomas with thickness of > 1.5 mm (n = 23; 25%), i.e. thick melanomas (n = 37; 40%). We also evaluated the total dermatoscopic score (TDS) according to the ABCD dermatoscopic algorithm, and the score according to the seven-point checklist in relation to the thickness of the melanomas.
Results. The group of thick melanomas was presented with a significantly higher frequency (p < 0.05) of the number of colors in the lesion of five or more (OR 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3–7.54), blue colour (OR 2, 4; 95% CI, 1.01–5.64), hairpin vessels (OR 6.2; 95% CI, 1.21–31.7), blue-white veil (OR 3.01; 95% CI , 1.27–7.16), centrally located areas without other dermatoscopic structures (OR 2.6; 95% CI, 0.99–7.1) polymorphous vessels (OR 2.4; 95% CI, 1.03 – 5.7) and ulceration (SN 22%, SP 100%, PPV 100%, OR cannot be determined). In the group of thick melanomas, we observed the TDS > 6.8 (OR 4.8; 95% CI, 1.18–19.44) and score 5 according to the seven-point checklist (OR 3.5; 95% CI, 1.36 – 8.99) significantly more often. A group of thin melanomas was associated with peripheral brown structureless areas (OR 4; 95% CI, 1.23–13.1).
Conclusion. Some standard dermatoscopic structures, colour and the evaluation of the mentioned dermatoscopic algorithms can be helpful in differentiating between thick and thin melanomas. However, the prediction of tumor thickness according to these dermatoscopic criteria is not unequivocal (tab. 3, fig. 2, lit. 18). Text in PDF www.lekarsky.herba.sk.
KEY WORDS: dermatoscopy, dermatoscopic structures, melanomas, tumor thickness.
Lek Obz 2024, 73 (4): 133-139
Milada KULLOVÁ 1,2, Eva MINARIKOVÁ 2, Marián GRENDÁR 3
1 Outpatient Department of Dermatovenerology, Faculty Hospital in Žilina, head MUDr. M. Kullová
2 Department of Dermatovenerology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital Martin, Head MUDr. K. Vorčáková, PhD.
3 Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, head doc. Mgr. M. Grendár, PhD.
