A histopathological study of melanocytic and pigmented skin lesions in patients with albinism.
BACKGROUND
Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of genetic disorders characterized by diminished pigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes. Individuals with OCA are at increased risk to develop sun-induced skin malignancies. The incidence of malignant melanoma in OCA individuals is, however, very low. The aim of this study was to document pigmented and melanocytic skin lesions occurring in patients with OCA.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed. Sixteen patients with OCA presenting at the Oncology and Dermatology Departments at Universitas Academic Hospital Annex in Bloemfontein, South Africa, were included. Selected clinically pigmented and/or melanocytic lesions were biopsied and studied by light microscopy.


RESULTS
Twenty-four punch biopsies were taken. Ten dendritic freckles and 10 melanocytic nevi were confirmed histologically. The nevi, which occurred in eight patients, were found on sun-protected skin. All the freckles occurred on sun-exposed skin. Twelve patients had current or previous skin malignancies. No melanomas were present in the study population. Other skin lesions ranged from solar keratoses to squamous cell carcinomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of pigmented lesions were dendritic freckles that occurred on sun-exposed skin. None of the patients had a current or previous diagnosis of malignant melanoma.
Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.|National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Gerhard
G
van der Westhuizen
Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.|National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Catherine A
CA
Beukes
Department of Oncology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Brent
B
Green
Department of Dermatology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Werner
W
Sinclair
Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.|National Health Laboratory Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Jacqueline
J
Goedhals
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016115:Albinism, Oculocutaneous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017492:Keratosis, Seborrheic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
albinism; freckle; malignant melanoma; nevus; solar keratosis