Dermoscopic features of melanoma on the scalp

Abstract

There is a need to improve the early detection of melanoma of the scalp because it is characterized by a poorer prognosis compared with melanoma on other body sites. Dermoscopy is a useful tool for the early detection of melanoma but no previous reports on dermoscopic features of scalp melanoma have been published. We describe the first case of melanoma of the scalp seen by dermoscopy exhibiting a multicomponent global pattern with atypical pigment network, irregular streaks, and regression structures. In contrast to the dermoscopic features usually seen in melanoma occurring on the face, the same morphologic type of pigment network usually seen in melanoma of the trunk was observed in our case of scalp melanoma.