
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Cheng, Harriet 
A1  - Oakley, Amanda 
A1  - Rademaker, Marius 
T1  - Change in a child&#x92;s naevus prompts referral to a dermatology service
JF  - Journal of Primary Health Care
JO  - J Prim Health Care
Y1  - 2014
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
SP  - 123
EP  - 128
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HC14123 
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Although melanoma is rare in children, parental concern about skin lesions often results in specialist referral and/or excision of benign lesions. AIM: To review dermatology referrals of children with skin lesions to determine reason for referral, macroscopic and dermatoscopic features of referred lesions, diagnosis, management and histology for excised lesions. METHODS: Referral letters, clinical and dermatoscopic images and outcomes were reviewed for skin lesions in children aged 0&#x96;18 years attending a teledermoscopy clinic over a 28-month period. RESULTS: Eighty-nine children with 128 lesions accounted for 9% of all referrals to the teledermoscopy clinic. The mean age of the children was 12 years (range 2&#x96;18 years). A &#x91;changing mole&#x92; was the most common reason for referral (35 children; 39%), followed by &#x91;possible melanoma&#x92; (19; 21%), and congenital naevus (9; 10%). The majority of lesions were benign melanocytic naevi (112 lesions; 88%). No lesions were diagnosed as melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer. A history of change was given for 61/112 lesions (54%). Five lesions were excised; histopathological diagnoses were two spindle cell tumours of Reed, two compound naevi and one Spitz naevus. DISCUSSION: Change in a lesion, though a common trigger for referral, is less likely to indicate malignancy in children compared with adults and, as a sole criterion, does not necessitate specialist referral. Teledermoscopy clinics offer high quality macroscopic and dermatoscopic images and can assist in providing reassurance, where appropriate. KEYWORDS: Dermatology; dermoscopy; melanocytic naevi; melanoma 
ER  -

