Background: Scanty information is available on the prevalence of congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) and congenital naevus-like naevi (CNLN), particularly the small ones. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of CMN/CNLN in Italian schoolchildren, and to assess variations according to potential risk factors for melanoma. Methods: We conducted a survey in 13 Italian areas on 3406 schoolchildren aged 12-17 years. Children were examined by dermatologists who assessed pigmentary traits and made a count of small (6-15 mm in diameter) and medium/large (> 15 mm) CMN/CNLN on 19 anatomical areas. Results: Overall, 592 children (17.4%) had one or more CMN/CNLN. Prevalence of small CMN/CNLN was 16.1%, and that of medium/large CMN/CNLN was 1.8%. There was no difference between age groups and sexes. CMN/CNLN were more frequent in children with a higher number of common melanocytic naevi (multivariate odds ratio, OR = 7.1 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile), consistent in small (OR = 7.2) and medium/large CMN/CNLN (OR = 6.0). Family history of malignant melanoma (OR = 1.4) and personal history of diabetes (OR = 4.4) appeared to be directly, and sun exposure inversely associated with CMN/CNLN. No relation was evident between CMN/CNLN and pigmentary traits, anthropometric characteristics, dietary habits, freckles, sunburns, sunscreen use or history of selected diseases. Conclusions: The association with family history of melanoma, the strong association with acquired melanocytic naevi, and the lack of association with pigmentary traits and sunburns suggest that CMN/CNLN may act as an independent risk marker for subjects at increased risk for cutaneous melanoma later in life. © 2008 The Authors.
Distribution of congenital melanocytic naevi and congenital naevus-like naevi in a survey of 3406 Italian schoolchildren / Gallus, S., Naldi, L., Leardini, M., Feliciangeli, M., Assalve, D., Stingeni, L., Stanganelli, I., Magi, S., Cusano, F., Sarracco, G., Di Landro, A., Lo Scocco, G., Di Lernia, V., Tessari, G., Fenizi, G., Altobella, A., Carli, P., Nardini, P., De Giorgi, V., Pezzarossa, E., et al.. - In: BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0007-0963. - 159:2(2008), pp. 433-438. [10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08656.x]
Distribution of congenital melanocytic naevi and congenital naevus-like naevi in a survey of 3406 Italian schoolchildren
Stanganelli I.;
2008-01-01
Abstract
Background: Scanty information is available on the prevalence of congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) and congenital naevus-like naevi (CNLN), particularly the small ones. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of CMN/CNLN in Italian schoolchildren, and to assess variations according to potential risk factors for melanoma. Methods: We conducted a survey in 13 Italian areas on 3406 schoolchildren aged 12-17 years. Children were examined by dermatologists who assessed pigmentary traits and made a count of small (6-15 mm in diameter) and medium/large (> 15 mm) CMN/CNLN on 19 anatomical areas. Results: Overall, 592 children (17.4%) had one or more CMN/CNLN. Prevalence of small CMN/CNLN was 16.1%, and that of medium/large CMN/CNLN was 1.8%. There was no difference between age groups and sexes. CMN/CNLN were more frequent in children with a higher number of common melanocytic naevi (multivariate odds ratio, OR = 7.1 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile), consistent in small (OR = 7.2) and medium/large CMN/CNLN (OR = 6.0). Family history of malignant melanoma (OR = 1.4) and personal history of diabetes (OR = 4.4) appeared to be directly, and sun exposure inversely associated with CMN/CNLN. No relation was evident between CMN/CNLN and pigmentary traits, anthropometric characteristics, dietary habits, freckles, sunburns, sunscreen use or history of selected diseases. Conclusions: The association with family history of melanoma, the strong association with acquired melanocytic naevi, and the lack of association with pigmentary traits and sunburns suggest that CMN/CNLN may act as an independent risk marker for subjects at increased risk for cutaneous melanoma later in life. © 2008 The Authors.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
