Clinical and Dermoscopic Insights Into Scalp Nevi in Chinese Children

BACKGROUND The presence of scalp nevi in children frequently causes apprehension, leading physicians and parents to consider unnecessary biopsies or excisions of scalp nevi in children. There are limited data on the dermoscopic characteristics of scalp nevi in Chinese children. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the clinical and dermoscopic features of scalp nevi in this specific population of Chinese pediatric patients, with a focus on a single pediatric dermatologic surgery practice. METHODS This retrospective cohort study investigated patients who underwent surgical excision of scalp nevi. All patients underwent dermoscopy with photographic documentation. RESULTS Seventy-two scalp nevi in 56 Chinese children were included. Notably, no melanoma cases were detected. The parietal region (35, 48.6%) was the most frequently affected anatomical site. Clinical asymmetry was more prevalent in nevi with a diameter exceeding 6 mm (p < .05). The predominant dermoscopic pattern observed was the globular pattern (50, 69.4%) while an intriguing rarity of a reverse-eclipse pattern (1, 1.4%). CONCLUSION This study revealed that scalp nevi in Chinese children usually did not exhibit concerning behavior. Increasing awareness of the clinical characteristics, dermoscopic features, and the natural progression of scalp nevi in children can potentially help reduce unnecessary surgical interventions.