title: Simulants of malignant melanoma: a rogue's gallery of melanocytic and nonmelanocytic imposters.
abstract: Although overdiagnosis of malignant melanoma involves no potential loss of life, it affects the patient profoundly and therefore should be addressed conscientiously. This review of both benign and malignant, melanocytic and nonmelanocytic simulants of malignant melanoma emphasizes the pitfalls and repercussions of misdiagnosis. For more accurate differentiation, simulants are classified first as superficial (intraepidermal) or deep (dermal), then as melanocytic or nonmelanocytic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology-501, HSW, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0506, USA.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: LeBoit
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*