Karyometry of malignant melanoma cells present in skin strippings.
OBJECTIVE
Skin strippings harvest the malignant melanoma cells eliminated through the stratum corneum. In this study, morphometry was applied to such non-invasive samplings in order to derive objective information about nuclear atypia.


METHODS
Cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings were collected from 140 malignant melanomas. Karyometry was performed to quantify the size and shape of malignant cell nuclei.


RESULTS
Anisokaryosis was prominent although the outline of nuclei were rather smooth.


CONCLUSIONS
Image analysis of skin strippings harvested from malignant melanomas shows that anisokaryosis is the major cytologic feature of malignant melanoma cells in transit in the stratum corneum.
Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
G E
GE
Piérard
Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
N
N
Ezzine-Sebai
Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
B
B
Fazaa
Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
N
N
Nikkels-Tassoudji
Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
C
C
Piérard-Franchimont
cancer; image analysis; karyometry; malignant melanoma; nucleus; skin stripping