title: The histological spectrum of acquired nevi. An analysis of the intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation in common and dysplastic nevi.
abstract: The histological intraepidermal characteristics considered to be specific to dysplastic nevi (radial extension, lentiginous and disordered nest proliferations, cytological atypia or dyskaryosis) were investigated in a series of 114 acquired nevi showing various clinical appearances in an attempt to establish whether dysplastic nevi can be considered a homogeneous class of lesions, clearly distinct from common nevi. On the basis of the distribution of investigated architectural features, found singly or variously associated, the examined lesions were divided into 5 groups, showing an increasing incidence of dyskaryosis. Results suggest that acquired nevi, rather than two distinct classes (common and dysplastic nevi), form a histological spectrum of lesions, within which the border between lesions implying and not implying an increased melanoma risk cannot be objectively fixed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomic Pathology, University of Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bondi
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*