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Peripheral globular nevi strongly associated with growth

Nevi displaying a peripheral globular pattern were strongly associated with symmetrical growth, according to study results.

Researchers retrospectively identified 84 patients with 121 peripheral globular nevi (PGN), with cohorts recruited from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Melanoma Unit of the Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona; and Study of Nevi in Children between Sept. 1, 1999, and May 1, 2013.

Longitudinal monitoring with serial dermoscopic imaging of the patients’ PGN was conducted, and data were analyzed between May 1, 2014 and April 1, 2015.

The study’s primary endpoint was the establishment of the natural growth curve of PGN.

Follow-up had a median duration of 25.1 months. There were 116 nevi (95.9%) that enlarged during sequential monitoring.

“The rate of increase in the surface are of PGN varied among cohorts and ranged from –0.47 to 2.26 mm²/[month] (mean rate, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.14-0.36] mm²/[month]),” the researchers wrote.

There were 26 PGN that stabilized or decreased in size with a median time to growth cessation of 58.6 months.

There was a symmetric manner in all lesion changes, while a decrease in density of peripheral globules were displayed over time in 91 lesions (75.2%).

“By studying the growth trajectories of PGN, we have validated the observation that these nevi are strongly associated with growth,” the researchers concluded. “Although change in a melanocytic lesion remains a potential sign of melanoma, we must recognize that not all growth is associated with malignancy. A more complete understanding of [melanocytic neoplasms’] life cycle and growth patterns may one day help to prevent unnecessary excisions by identifying benign lesions more accurately and differentiating them from malignant ones.”  – By Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.