Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a widely expressed cytokine involved in various biological processes. Although MIF's functions in cancer have not been completely elucidated, its expression has usually been correlated with tumour progression and aggressiveness, and it is currently discussed as a new promising target for novel therapies. Recent studies seem to confirm its active r...

We have examined melanocytic cells derived directly from fresh biopsy tissue for the presence of p53 mutations. Using selective media that permits growth of melanocytes and inhibits growth of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, we established short-term, primary cultures of melanocytes from skin biopsies of common acquired nevi, dysplastic nevi, and from metastatic melanoma. Using PCR-single-strande...

Melanomas can arise either de novo (70%) or from pre-existing melanocytic lesions (30%). Of the latter, most cases arise at the dermoepidermal junction from small congenital or acquired non-blue nevi while only a few arise from blue nevi, notably the cellular subtype and less commonly the common (dendritic) type. Melanomas that arise from blue nevi usually occur on the scalp with greater freque...

The number of melanocytic nevi is the most important risk factor for cutaneous melanoma. This 1998 cross-sectional study of 1,812 children aged 2-7 years from 78 day-care centers in Germany analyzed the protective effect of sunscreen and clothing on the number of melanocytic nevi. Total body nevi were counted, and pigmentary features were assessed. Parents underwent a standardized interview con...

EMN: eruptive melanocytic nevi EMMM: epidermotropic metastatic malignant melanoma ITM: in-transit metastases INTRODUCTION Eruptive melanocytic nevi (EMN) are an unusual phenomenon characterized by the rapid appearance of multiple melanocytic nevi. Whether atypical or benign, EMN are associated with various medications and diseases but not previously with melanoma. EMN have been described in int...

BACKGROUND The dermoscopic features of vulvar melanosis lesions are well known. To our knowledge, there are only a few case reports about dermoscopic features of pigmented genital lesions in male patients. OBJECTIVE To evaluate dermoscopic and clinical characteristics of benign lesions of the genital area in both males and females, and to assess the distinguishing dermoscopic criteria of vulv...

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...

The histopathological diagnosis of melanoma can be challenging. No currently used molecular markers accurately distinguish between nevus and melanoma. Recent transcriptome analyses have shown the differential expression of several genes in melanoma progression. Here, we describe a multi-marker diagnostic assay using 5 markers (ARPC2, FN1, RGS1, SPP1, and WNT2) overexpressed in melanomas. Immuno...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Acral melanoma is the most common type of melanoma in Asians, and usually results in a poor prognosis due to late diagnosis. We applied a convolutional neural network to dermoscopy images of acral melanoma and benign nevi on the hands and feet and evaluated its usefulness for the early diagnosis of these conditions. METHODS A total of 724 dermoscopy images comprising acral ...

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is usually defined as a melanocytic lesion present at birth that will reach a diameter ≥ 20 cm in adulthood. Its incidence is estimated in <1:20,000 newborns. Despite its rarity, this lesion is important because it may associate with severe complications such as malignant melanoma, affect the central nervous system (neurocutaneous melanosis), and have major ps...