Table 2.
Clinicopathological features of the melanomas.
| Characteristic | Tiny (n = 86) | Nontiny (n = 226) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive, n (%) | 38 (44.2) | 74 (32.7) | 0.06 |
| Breslow thickness, mm; median (IQR) [range] | |||
| All MMs |
in situ (in situ to 0.5) [in situ to 1.5] |
in situ (in situ to 0.43) [in situ to 3.4] |
0.09 |
| Invasive MMs |
0.5 (0.3–0.8) [0.2–1.5] |
0.5 (0.3–0.7) [0.15–3.4] |
0.62 |
| MM subtype, n (%) | |||
| Melanoma in situ, unspecified | 44 (51.2) | 105 (46.5) | 0.001 |
| Lentigo maligna | 4 (4.7) | 47 (20.8) | |
| Lentigo maligna melanoma | 1 (1.2) | 13 (5.8) | |
| Superficial spreading melanoma | 24 (27.9) | 50 (22.1) | |
| Nodular melanoma | 2 (2.3) | 2 (0.9) | |
| Naevoid melanoma | 4 (4.7) | 4 (1.8) | |
| Spitzoid melanoma | 2 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Invasive melanoma, unspecified | 5 (5.8) | 5 (2.2) | |
| Other features, n (%) | |||
| Associated with a naevus | 19 (22.1) | 82 (36.3) | 0.02 |
| Ulceration present | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.4) | 0.54 |
| Mitoses ≥ 1/mm2 | 11 (12.8) | 21 (9.3) | 0.36 |
| Borderline histopathology a | 43 (50) | 32 (14.2) | < 0.001 |
| Body site, n (%) | |||
| Head and neck | 5 (5.8) | 44 (19.5) | < 0.01 |
| Trunk | 26 (30.2) | 92 (40.7) | 0.09 |
| Upper limbs | 28 (32.6) | 58 (25.7) | 0.22 |
| Lower limbs | 27 (31.4) | 32 (14.2) | 0.01 |
| Colour, n (%) | |||
| Pigmented | 77 (89.5) | 192 (85.0) | < 0.05 |
| Hypomelanotic b | 2 (2.3) | 23 (10.2) | |
| Amelanotic c | 7 (8.1) | 11 (4.9) | |
| First noticed by, n (%) d | |||
| Patient | 10 (11.6) | 14 (6.6) | 0.14 |
| Doctor | 74 (86.0) | 197 (93.4) | |
| Appointment type on detection, n(%) | |||
| Initial | 12 (14) | 51 (22.6) | 0.09 |
| Follow‐up | 74 (86) | 175 (77.4) | |
| Main reason excision recommended, n (%) | |||
| Atypical baseline dermoscopy (exclusively) e | 18 (20.9) | 77 (34.1) | < 0.001 |
| Change (on SDDI and/or TBP) | 32 (37.2) | 75 (33.2) | |
| Atypical baseline dermoscopy + new lesion on TBP | 17 (19.8) | 12 (5.3) | |
| Atypical baseline dermoscopy + change (on SDDI and/or TBP) | 13 (15.1) | 22 (9.7) | |
| New lesion (according to TBP) | 5 (5.8) | 6 (2.7) | |
| Atypical findings on confocal microscopy | 1 (1.2) | 34 (15.0) | |
| Reason to recommend excision (combined), n (%) | |||
| Evidence of a new and/or changing lesion (SSDI and/or TBP) f | 67 (77.9) | 115 (50.9) | < 0.001 |
IQR, interquartile range; MM malignant melanoma; SDDI, sequential digital dermoscopy imaging; TBP, total body photography.
Focal severe cytological atypia, near‐confluent growth, central suprabasal scatter of clusters of melanocytes or occasional small melanocytes, increased atypical junctional melanocytes in severely sun‐damaged skin with extension down adnexae but regarded to be melanomas (and managed as such) based on clinicopathological correlation.
Pigmented areas representing < 25% of the total surface area.
Melanin pigmentation completely absent.
Data missing for 17 patients (2 patients with tiny melanomas and 15 with nontiny melanomas); these patients were excluded for P value calculation.
Excised due to an atypical baseline dermoscopy, with no other evidence of a new or changing lesion.
Combining the following categories: change on SDDI and/or TBP; atypical baseline dermoscopy + new on TBP; atypical baseline dermoscopy + change on SDDI and/or TBP; and new on TBP, regardless of atypical baseline dermoscopy.