Blue nevus with a starburst pattern on dermoscopy

Blue nevus with a starburst pattern on dermoscopy

Authors

  • Takeo Shiga Department of Dermatology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
  • Kimiko Nakajima Department of Dermatology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
  • Masahito Tarutani Department of Dermatology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
  • Miki Izumi Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Masaru Tanaka Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan
  • Shigetoshi Sano Department of Dermatology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan

Keywords:

blue nevus, dermoscopy, starburst pattern, Spitz nevus, histopathology

Abstract

An 11-year-old girl presented to our department with a blue-gray papule approximately 4 mm in diameter. We suspected that it was a blue nevus or a pigmented Reed/Spitz nevus. On dermoscopic observation, the lesion showed homogeneous black-bluish pigmentation. This dermoscopic feature was suggestive of a blue nevus. However, near-circumferential streaks and a global feature of a “starburst pattern” were also observed, as is often found in a Reed/Spitz nevus. The lesion was excised and histological examination revealed spindle cells with melanin pigments diffusely present in the upper dermis and around hair follicles in the mid-dermis, but not in the epidermis. The melanocytic cells were arranged in a symmetrical wedge-shaped configuration. In addition, there was a diffuse fibrosis. Finally, we made a diagnosis of a blue nevus based on these findings.

References

Zembowicz A, Phadke PA. Blue nevi and variants: an update. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011;135(3):327-36.

Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, et al (eds). Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2007:1099-121.

Braun RP, Rabinovitz HS, Oliviero M, Kopf AW, Saurat JH. Dermoscopy of pigmented skin lesions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;52(1):109-21.

Tsunemi Y, Saeki H, Tamaki K. Blue naevus with pigment network-like structure on dermoscopy. Acta Derm Venereol. 2008;88(4):412-3.

Ferrara G, Argenziano G, Soyer HP, et al. The spectrum of Spitz nevi: a clinicopathologic study of 83 cases. Arch Dermatol. 2005;141(11):1381-7.

Di Cesare A, Sera F, Gulia A, et al. The spectrum of dermatoscopic patterns in blue nevi. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(2):199-205.

Downloads

Published

2012-10-31

Issue

2012 Vol 2, No 4 | October

Section

Observation

License

Dermatology Practical & Conceptual applies a Creative Commons Attribution License (CCAL) to all works we publish (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Authors retain the copyright for their published work.

How to Cite

1.
Shiga T, Nakajima K, Tarutani M, Izumi M, Tanaka M, Sano S. Blue nevus with a starburst pattern on dermoscopy. Dermatol Pract Concept. Published online October 31, 2012:31-33. doi:10.5826/dpc.0204a07

Share

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC