Dermoscopic and Immunohistochemical Changes in Acquired Melanocytic Nevi following Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Therapy

Dermatology. 2016;232(3):273-8. doi: 10.1159/000445780. Epub 2016 May 19.

Abstract

Background: Acquired melanocytic nevi (AMN) have been reported to undergo morphological and dermoscopic changes following exposure to narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) radiation.

Objective: To study the morphological, dermoscopic and immunohistochemical changes in AMN following NB-UVB radiation.

Methods: Suberythemogenic NB-UVB sessions were delivered to 40 patients with AMN. For each patient, a minimum of 2 nevi were selected. One nevus was surgically removed from each patient prior to sessions as control; for the other nevus, dermoscopic images were captured before and after NB-UVB sessions. The images were evaluated for changes. At the end, another nevus was surgically removed for immunohistochemical assessment of Ki-67 and melan-A.

Results: Our study showed a statistically significant increase in the size of AMN following NB-UVB radiation. Benign dermoscopic changes were observed. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between some dermoscopic findings and the total cumulative dose of NB-UVB. Immunohistochemical analysis did not show any significant change in the exposed AMN.

Conclusion: AMN irradiated with repeated suberythemogenic doses of NB-UVB showed benign morphological and dermoscopic changes, and this was confirmed by our immunohistochemical study.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dermoscopy / methods*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods*
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism*
  • MART-1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nevus, Pigmented / diagnosis*
  • Nevus, Pigmented / metabolism
  • Nevus, Pigmented / radiotherapy
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Ultraviolet Therapy / methods*

Substances

  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • MART-1 Antigen