What is deep penetrating nevus?

What is deep penetrating nevus?

Deep penetrating nevus (DPN), also known as a plexiform spindle cell nevus, is a darkly pigmented melanocytic lesion that most often appears as an asymptomatic solitary papule or nodule on the head or neck, trunk, or upper extremities.

Is deep penetrating nevus cancer?

Deep penetrating nevi (DPN) are rare melanocytic nevi, which can exhibit atypical histological features hampering the differentiation from malignant melanoma.

What is severe cytological atypia?

Severe cytologic atypia is defined as enlarged, spindle- and epithelioid-shaped melanocytes with hyperchromatic nuclei of melanocytes that are typically larger than basal keratinocytes (2 times or greater than the nuclei of basal keratinocytes), with distinct nucleoli.

Are blue nevus deep?

Blue naevus (nevus in American spelling) is a type of melanocytic naevus in which spindle-shaped or, less commonly, ovoid naevus cells, are located deep within the dermis.

What is cellular blue nevus?

Blue nevus is a benign melanocytic lesion whose most frequent variants are dendritic (common) blue nevus and cellular blue nevus. Atypical cellular blue nevus presents an intermediate histopathology between the typical and a rare variant of malignant blue nevus/melanoma arising in a cellular blue nevus.

How common is Spitz nevus?

Spitz nevi are not very common. Some estimates suggest they affect around 7 out of every 100,000 people. About 70 percent of people who are diagnosed with a Spitz nevus are 20 years old or younger. These lesions can develop in older adults, too.

What is borderline melanoma?

Background: The borderline melanocytic tumor (BMT) is a morphologically and biologically indeterminate melanocytic proliferation manifesting worrisome architectural features and cytologic atypia exceeding that encountered in melanocytic nevi yet insufficient to warrant designation as melanoma.

Is cytology the same as pathology?

Is cytology part of pathology? Cytology (cytopathology) is a branch, or subspecialty, of pathology. In medicine, pathology deals with the laboratory examination of cells in samples of body tissue or fluids for diagnostic purposes.

How do you know if blue nevus is cancerous?

Cancerous nevi may appear as a common or cellular blue nevus but develop at a later age and may start to look like ulcers. They may also have a more nodular or plaque-like form….Other common characteristics are:

• small size.
• round shape.
• raised or flat surface.
• smooth surface.
• size between 1 and 5 millimeters.

Can a blue nevus be malignant?

Malignant blue nevus is a rare form of malignant melanoma. A cellular blue nevus is the precursor lesion. The scalp is the most common site. The tumor often presents clinically as a progressively enlarging or multinodular blue-black lesion.

Can blue nevus become malignant?

Although most cases of blue nevi are benign, there is a small possibility that a cellular blue nevus can undergo malignant transformation and become a malignant cellular blue nevus (MCBN). Thus, a biopsy of any changing or suspicious lesion should be done.

What kind of cancer is deep penetrating nevus?

Deep penetrating nevus (DPN) is a distinct variant of melanocytic nevus and remains a histopathologic challenge to pathologists because of its resemblance to blue nevus, malignant melanoma, pigmented Spitz nevus, and congenital melanocytic nevus.

What are the features of deep penetrating nevi?

Histopathological features of deep penetrating nevus (DPN). A, At low power, the punch biopsy specimen demonstrates a well-circumscribed, wedge-shaped, pigmented dermal lesion, tapering toward the subcutaneous fat. B, DPN typically track along adnexal structures and neurovascular bundles, as shown on this high-power view.

Where are the nevus cells located in the body?

DPN is composed of loosely arranged nests or fascicles of deeply pigmented nevus cells admixed with melanophages scattered throughout the dermis, even extending into the subcutaneous fat [ 1 – 6 ].

Where does DPN track in the neurovascular system?

B, DPN typically track along adnexal structures and neurovascular bundles, as shown on this high-power view. C, At high power, monomorphic pigmented dendritic melanocytes are interspersed among the larger, darkly pigmented melanophages. What do the terms “intermediate” and “indeterminate” mean to you?