BACKGROUND Distinguishing melanoma from dysplastic nevi can be challenging. OBJECTIVE To assess which putative molecular biomarkers can be optimally combined to aid in the clinical diagnosis of melanoma from dysplastic nevi. METHODS Immunohistochemical expressions of 12 promising biomarkers (pAkt, Bim, BRG1, BRMS1, CTHRC1, Cul1, ING4, MCL1, NQO1, SKP2, SNF5 and SOX4) were studied in 122 mel...

BACKGROUND Until recently, the removal of melanocytic nevi has been performed with a CO(2) laser or Er:YAG laser. These lasers have been useful for removing affected spots. However, enlargement of spots or some sequelae, including depressed or hypertrophic scars, could develop as unwanted results. The Q-switched Nd:YAG laser has been used to remove deep-seated melanocytes, such as Ota nevus or ...

INTRODUCTION The size and number of acquired melanocytic nevi (AMN) and presence of dysplastic nevi are the leading risk factors that should be recognized in the development of malignant melanoma. AIM To evaluate AMN and risk factors in the development of AMN in all age groups admitted to a dermatology outpatient clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS Four hundred and twelve patients who were admitte...

BACKGROUND Melanocytic nevi typically show a morphologic sequence of maturation from epithelioid "type A" cells to fusiform, Schwann cell-like "type C" cells with dermal descent. Nevi may also produce Wagner-Meissner-like structures (nevic corpuscles). Previous studies have shown that this maturation of intradermal nevi recapitulates intermediate stages in Schwann cell development. In intraderm...

There is concern that growth hormone (GH) therapy may influence the growth of melanocytic nevi. In a review of the experience of the National Cooperative Growth Study, we found no excess of skin cancer in children who were treated with GH. We also reviewed our experience in 90 children with GH deficiency and 24 with Turner syndrome. We found no difference in the nevi count between control subje...

C-Kit (CD117), the receptor for the stem cell factor, a growth factor for melanocyte migration and proliferation, has shown differential immunostaining in various benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. The purpose of this study is to compare c-Kit immunostaining in benign nevi and in primary and metastatic malignant melanomas, to determine whether c-Kit can aid in the differential diagnosis ...

The study of hair follicle tumors can be confusing, and hair follicle nevi are no exception. Analogous lesions frequently have divergent appellations. We evaluated the English-language literature on hair follicle nevi and histologic equivalents from 1921 to 1994. In addition, we reviewed four standard dermatopathology textbooks for further examples. We found 20 published valid cases of hair fol...

We report a case of halo-phenomenon in excisional biopsy of junctional nevi in a 19-year-old girl. The diagnosis was established histopathologically because of the lack of clinical halo and unspecific dermoscopic features. Clinicopathologic difficulties in establishing the diagnosis of these pigmented lesions, etiopathogenesis and differential diagnosis of halo nevi are emphasized. Dermatologis...

Considerable data support the idea that oncogene-induced senescence remains a barrier that needs to be overcome for malignant transformation of melanocytes. Human nevi stain positive for the senescence-associated β-galactosidase marker, suggesting that cells have lost their proliferative capacity. Most nevi harbor B-RAF or N-RAS mutations, implying that they are growth arrested via oncogene-ind...