Photo Rounds

Atypical pigmented lesions on back

A 35-year-old woman with a history of 2 basal cell carcinomas on her back presented to her family physician (FP) for a total body skin examination. The physician noted and labeled more than 14 atypical pigmented lesions on her back. The patient denied a history of melanoma and had no family history of it, either. Note the dermoscopic images of lesions 3 and 4 in the bottom left corner. The patient reported no pain or discomfort.

What’s your diagnosis?


 

Atypical pigmented lesions on back

The FP recognized that this patient had multiple dysplastic nevi (DN) and was concerned about a possible melanoma.

Although this patient did not have the familial atypical mole and melanoma (FAMM) syndrome, she was at higher risk of developing a melanoma based on the numerous DN that were so visibly apparent on her trunk. (A diagnosis of FAMM requires the occurrence of melanoma in one or more first- or second-degree relatives.)

Total body photography is the current state-of-the-art technology for monitoring patients with multiple atypical moles at higher risk for skin cancer. Small changes in DN and new nevi can be seen best with this technology. Individual flat lesions also can be monitored with dermoscopy over 3 to 4 months.

It is not recommended, however, to follow a suspicious raised lesion over time with dermoscopy and/or photography because a raised lesion might be a nodular melanoma and a delay of diagnosis of over 3 months may worsen the prognosis.

In this case, the patient was happy to be referred to a dermatologist with total body photography. Fortunately, the patient reported back to her FP that the dermatologist did not detect any melanomas, and 2 biopsies that were performed came back as DN only.

Photos and text for Photo Rounds Friday courtesy of Richard P. Usatine, MD. This case was adapted from: Smith M. Epidermal nevus and nevus sebaceous. In: Usatine R, Smith M, Mayeaux EJ, et al. Color Atlas of Family Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013:958-962.

To learn more about the Color Atlas of Family Medicine, see: www.amazon.com/Color-Family-Medicine-Richard-Usatine/dp/0071769641/.

You can now get the second edition of the Color Atlas of Family Medicine as an app by clicking on this link: usatinemedia.com.

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