title: Epidermal basaloid cell hyperplasia overlying dermatofibromas.
abstract: In a series of 1117 dermatofibromas (69% women and 31% men), there were 25 cases (2.2%) with basaloid cell hyperplasia (BCH) of the overlying epidermis. This type of hyperplasia, which closely resembled a basal cell carcinoma (BCC), was predominantly seen in men (14 vs. 11 cases). To determine the nature of these BCHs, we applied a panel of 18 antibodies that are commonly used to classify epithelial proliferations on 6 cases with sufficient amounts of BCH and on 20 BCCs of various types. The number of CK20-positive Merkel cells was found to be increased in 4 cases of BCH, whereas these cells were completely absent or reduced in all BCCs. The significance of this finding must be interpreted with caution, but it must be regarded as a promising method to distinguish between reactive BCHs and neoplastic BCCs. Except for this rather subtle finding, none of the antibodies used could discriminate between the 2 conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sørlandet Sykehus HF, Kristiansand, Norway. christian.fredrik.lindboe@sshf.no
authors.forename: Christian Fredrik
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lindboe
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Løvdal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D053554:Keratin-20 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D018862:Merkel Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053554:Keratin-20