title: Granulomatous inflammation in nevi undergoing regression (halo phenomenon): a report of 6 cases.
abstract: Halo phenomenon is a process whereby a melanocytic nevus undergoes regression with or without a clinically evident halo. It is now well established that cell-mediated immunity and to a lesser extent humoral immunity are integral to the development of halo nevi. We report 6 cases of nevi exhibiting halo phenomenon with granulomatous inflammation received in our dermatopathology practice over a 7-month period. Of these 6 cases, clinical evidence of a halo was documented in 2 of the nevi. In none of the cases was there a mention of granulomatous inflammation by the referring pathologist. Despite an extensive review of the literature, we did not find a report of overtly granulomatous inflammation occurring in regressing nevi, although we encounter the phenomenon not uncommonly in our practice and believe that practicing dermatopathologists should be aware of it.
authors.affiliation: Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York, NY, USA. kdeniank@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kwame Sekou
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Denianke
authors.forename: Geoffrey J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D009418:S100 Proteins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule