Histologic distinction between subungual lentigo and melanoma.
The distinction between a benign subungual pigmented macule (lentigo) and an early lesion of melanoma in situ can be difficult. To identify histologic parameters of potential diagnostic value, we retrospectively reviewed biopsies and excisions of 35 pigmented nail lesions. We studied 20 melanomas (10 invasive and 10 noninvasive) and 15 benign subungual melanotic lentigines. Ten specimens of normal nail apparatus obtained for reasons other than melanonychia were also examined as controls. The parameters, which were analyzed, included the density of melanocytes, the presence of multinucleated cells, pagetoid spread, cytologic atypia, inflammation, and the distribution of melanin pigment. The density of melanocytes was measured as the number of cells per 1 mm stretch of subungual dermo-epithelial junction [=melanocyte count (MC)]. The MC for invasive melanomas was as follows: mean=102, median=92.5, and range 52 to 212. For noninvasive (only in situ) melanoma, the mean MC was 58.9, median 51, and range 39 to 136. For benign subungual melanotic macules, the mean MC was 15.3, median 14, and range 5 to 31. In normal controls, the mean MC was 7.7, median 7.5, and range 4 to 9. Qualitative features associated with in situ melanoma and useful for its distinction from benign subungual melanotic macules included the presence of confluent stretches of solitary units of melanocytes, multinucleated melanocytes, lichenoid inflammatory reaction, and florid pagetoid spread of melanocytes.
Amin
Bijal
B
Department of Pathology, The New York Presbyterian, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Nehal
Kishwer S
KS
Jungbluth
Achim A
AA
Zaidi
Bushra
B
Brady
Mary S
MS
Coit
Daniel C
DC
Zhou
Quin
Q
Busam
Klaus J
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007911:Lentigo / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*