Dermatoscopic and clinical features of congenital or congenital-type nail matrix nevi: A multicenter prospective cohort study by the International Dermoscopy Society

Abstract

Background: Congenital nail matrix nevi (NMN) are difficult to diagnose because they feature clinical characteristics suggestive of adult subungual melanoma. Nail matrix biopsy is difficult to perform, especially in children.

Objective: To describe the initial clinical and dermatoscopic features of NMN appearing at birth (congenital) or after birth but before the age of 5 years (congenital-type).

Methods: We conducted a prospective, international, and consecutive data collection in 102 hospitals or private medical offices across 30 countries from 2009 to 2019.

Results: There were 69 congenital and 161 congenital-type NMNs. Congenital and congenital-type NMN predominantly displayed an irregular pattern of longitudinal microlines (n = 146, 64%), reminiscent of subungual melanoma in adults. The distal fibrillar ("brush-like") pattern, present in 63 patients (27.8%), was more frequently encountered in congenital NMN than in congenital-type NMN (P = .012). Moreover, congenital NMN more frequently displayed a periungual pigmentation (P = .029) and Hutchinson's sign (P = .027) than did congenital-type NMN.

Limitations: Lack of systematic biopsy-proven diagnosis and heterogeneity of clinical and dermatoscopic photographs.

Conclusion: Congenital and congenital-type NMN showed worrisome clinical and dermatoscopic features similar to those observed in adulthood subungual melanoma. The distal fibrillar ("brush-like") pattern is a suggestive feature of congenital and congenital-type NMN.

Keywords: children; congenital; congenital nail matrix nevus; dermatoscopy; longitudinal melanonychia; melanonychia striata; nevus of the nail unit; pediatric; subungual melanoma.