Total Body Photography and Sequential Digital Dermoscopy in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Melanocytic nevi can vary in size and number in pregnant women, and the differential diagnosis with melanoma may be challenging. Objectives: To describe changes in total body photography of pregnant women and dermoscopy aspects of their nevi. Methods: A prospective cohort study with 703 melanocytic nevi from 18 women was performed, comparing them in the first and third trimester of pregnancy. Images were analyzed between the 2 periods for changes in dermoscopic aspects. Results: Total body photography images indicated that 44% of patients had new lesions. Regarding the observed changes, there were symmetric or regular changes of the network (23% of cases), occurrence of new globules/dots (12.4%), new vascular structures (3.2%), new streaks (1.7%), and new structureless area (1.0%). Moreover, 55.0% of the nevi increased in size. Enlarging of the nevi was observed mostly on the abdomen (87.1%; P < 0.001) and showed more network changes (27.1%; P = 0.014) and formation of new globules and dots (16.0%; P < 0.001). Patients with a risk of developing melanoma presented more frequently enlarged nevi (45%; P = 0.019). The association between streak formation and skin type was significant (P = 0.012) and was more frequent in skin type II (2.7%), when compared with skin types III (1.3%) and IV (0%).

Keywords

• dermoscopy
• melanocytic nevi
• pregnancy
• digital monitoring
• total body photography