Architectural features in melanocytic lesions with cellular atypia.
According to the quantity of single atypical melanocytes at the dermoepidermal junction 334 nevi were assigned to 3 groups: (1) with pronounced nuclear and cellular atypia (n = 73); (2) with moderate atypia (n = 127), and (3) without atypical melanocytes (n = 134). Three architectural features were almost exclusively observed in groups 1 and 2 with cellular and nuclear atypia: atypical localization of melanocytes in the epidermis, irregular distribution of melanocytes in the junctional zone and atypical nests of melanocytes. A combination of 2 or 3 of these features was seen in 76% of the nevi with pronounced cellular and nuclear atypia, in 28% of those with moderate atypia and in none of those without atypical melanocytes. Regarding 4 other criteria only minor but still statistically significant differences were found between the 3 groups of nevi. We conclude that these 4 other criteria, i.e. inflammatory infiltrate, lamellar and/or concentric fibroplasia, persisting lentiginous hyperplasia and dust-like pigment in melanocytes and nevus cells are not helpful for the diagnosis of a dysplastic nevus because of their low specificity. Minimal requirements for the diagnosis of a dysplastic nevus are suggested.
Balkau
D
D
Fachklinik Hornheide, University of Münster, FRG.
Gartmann
H
H
Wischer
W
W
Grootens
A
A
Hagemeier
H H
HH
Hundeiker
M
M
Suter
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure