A Multicenter Survey: How Do Transplant Dermatologists Monitor Organ Transplant Recipients With Nevi?

OBJECTIVES: The incidence and mortality of melanoma are increased in organ transplant recipients. Multiple acquired common and dysplastic nevi are risk factors for melanoma. A new or changing nevus may suggest melanoma. Strategies used by transplant dermatologists to monitor nevi are unknown. Herein, we aimed to assess the methods used by transplant dermatologists for monitoring multiple acquired common nevi, dysplastic nevi, and new or changing nevi.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was e-mailed to 63 members of the Skin Care in Organ Transplant Patients, Europe.

RESULTS: Thirty-eight (92.7%) of 41 responders reported that they instruct their patients to perform regular self-skin examinations. Of 41 responders, 41.5% prescribed screening every 6 months, 36.6% prescribed it every 12 months, 12.2% prescribed it every 3 months, and 9.7% performed screening without regular intervals. Regarding type of examination, 80.5% performed full-body skin examinations with the naked eye, 70.7% performed dermoscopy of clinically suspicious nevi, 53.6% offered dermoscopic photography of dermoscopically suspicious nevi, 36.6% provided close-up photography of clinically suspicious nevi, 34.1% performed baseline total body photography, and 24.4% conducted dermoscopy of all nevi. We also found that 7.3%, 4.9%, and 4.9% performed only full-body skin examination with the naked eye, only dermoscopy of clinically suspicious nevi, and only dermoscopy of all nevi, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Dedicated transplant dermatologists perform a wide variety of nevi screening procedures in organ transplant recipients. Transplant dermatologists should include sequential digital dermoscopic imaging in their armamentarium to follow organ transplant recipients with melanocytic lesions. A combination of techniques is advisable for detecting early posttransplant melanomas.