Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as an ancillary method in the diagnostic workup of histopathologically ambiguous melanocytic neoplasms. A combination of probes targeting 3 loci on chromosome 6 and 1 on 11q has been reported to distinguish unequivocal melanomas and nevi with a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 96%, respectively. Ho...

Dermal melanocytosis is characterized by the presence of ectopic melanocytes in the dermis. The most common forms include the Mongolian spot, blue nevus, nevus of Ota, and nevus of Ito. Some types of dermal melanocytosis do not fit into any of these morphologic categories, however. Our case demonstrated an extensive amount of uniform deep blue patches of nevi with unilateral distribution on the...

Blue nevi are benign melanocytic lesions located in the deeper reticular dermis, consequence of failure of melanocytic migration into the dermal-epidermal junction from the neural crest. Lesions are usually asymptomatic and solitary, but may present in a multiple or agminated (grouped) pattern. The agminated subtype is formed when bluish-pigmented lesions cluster together in a well-defined area...

The term “nevoid malignant melanoma” (nevoid MM) is used here to describe rare nodular malignant melanomas that may escape detection in routine histological sections due to the lack of a prominent intraepidermal component, sharp lateral circumscription and evidence of partial maturation with descent in the dermis (1). Nevoid MM mimic ordinary compound or intradermal melanocytic nevi when the me...

Desmoplastic melanocytic nevi can be difficult to distinguish from desmoplastic melanoma. The presence of lymphocytic aggregates in association with a sclerosing melanocytic proliferation is commonly regarded as a feature in support of a diagnosis of desmoplastic melanoma. However, the finding is not specific for melanoma. Herein we report six cases of sclerosing melanocytic nevi with associate...

The clinical distinction between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and intradermal melanocytic nevus lesions on the face can be difficult, particularly in young patients or patients with multiple nevi. Dermoscopy is a useful tool for analyzing characteristic dermoscopic features of BCC, such as cartwheel structures, maple leaf-like areas, blue-gray nests and dots, and ulceration. It also reveals arbor...

We present a case of an early invasive melanoma (Breslow thickness 0.25 mm), 1.6 mm in diameter on the arm of a 38-year-old woman. She was under surveillance due to having multiple (>100) nevi, and the melanoma was assessed as a new lesion by the examining doctor. Clinically the lesion was hyper-pigmented compared with surrounding nevi and dermatoscopically it had a clue of pseudopods/lines rad...

Despite recent advances, the biology underlying nevogenesis remains unclear. Activating mutations in NRAS, HRAS, BRAF, and GNAQ have been identified in benign nevi. Their presence roughly correlates with congenital, Spitz, acquired, and blue nevi, respectively. These mutations are likely to play a critical role in driving nevogenesis. While each mutation is able to activate the MAP kinase pathw...

INTRODUCTION Galanin is a neuropeptide with wide-ranging effects, especially within the endocrine and nervous systems. Galanin and its receptors are present in human skin. Galanin is expressed in different neural, endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors and, on the other hand, several neuropeptides, particularly alpha-MSH, seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of melanoma. OBJECTIVE To investig...

The term large plaque type blue nevus with subcutaneous cellular nodules (LPTBN-SN) refers to a huge blue nevus, usually located on the trunk, that develops subcutaneous nodules many years after the lesion has appeared. The potential malignancy of an LPTBN-SN was only discovered in 2012. We report the case of a 56-year-old Caucasian man that developed a cutaneous melanoma on an LPTBN-SN of the ...