Stardust Pattern as Evolution of Pigmented Spitz Nevi During Childhood

Introduction: Spitz nevi (SN) are benign melanocytic proliferations frequently occurring in children. Some pigmented SN with a starburst pattern evolve into the "stardust" one, which is characterized by a central, black to gray, hyperpigmented area and remnants of a brown network at the periphery. These dermoscopy changes are often the first alert to induce excision. Objectives: The aim of this study is to enlarge the case series of stardust SN in children, in order to increase confidence with this new dermoscopic pattern and reduce unnecessary excisions. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted with SN cases received from IDS members. The inclusion criteria were: clinical and/or histopathologic diagnosis of Spitz naevus with starburst appearance in children <12 years old, availability of a dermoscopic image at baseline and af-ter follow-up of at least 1 year, availability of patient data. The dermoscopic images and their changes over time were assessed by three evaluators in consensus.