What are Monomorphous melanocytes?

Cytologically, the monomorphous melanocytes of melanocytic nevi are in an erratic, unpredictable assortment of small and minimally larger sizes and shapes, e.g., round, oval, spindle-shaped, polygonal, plasmacytoid, ballooned, fusiform, dendritic, pagetoid and multinucleate.

Is atypical melanocytic hyperplasia cancer?

Atypical melanocytic lesions, which are also called atypical moles or atypical melanocytic hyperlasias, are pigmented moles that contain abnormal cells. These moles are usually benign. However, in some cases, atypical melanocytic lesions can become melanomas.

Are melanocytes bad?

UVA radiation causes lesions or DNA damage to melanocytes, which are the skin cells that produce the skin pigment known as melanin. Melanin is a protective pigment in skin, blocking UV radiation from damaging DNA and potentially causing skin cancer.

What is the difference between nevus cells and melanocytes?

Nevus cells are a variant of melanocytes. They are larger than typical melanocytes, do not have dendrites, and have more abundant cytoplasm with coarse granules. They are usually located at the dermoepidermal junction or in the dermis of the skin.

Are melanocytes precancerous?

Compared with other clinically apparent, benign, but potentially precancerous lesions, melanocytic nevi are unique as they arise relatively early in life.

What are atypical melanocytes?

Atypical melanocytic lesions are pigmented moles that have abnormal cells under a microscope. These lesions will need to be evaluated by excision (removal) and evaluation by a dermatopathologist in a laboratory setting.

What melanocytes disorders are there?

PIGMENTARY DISORDERS

• Congenital Hyperpigmentation Disorders.
• Acquired Hyperpigmentation Disorders.
• Congenital Hypopigmentation Disorders.
• Acquired Hypopigmentation Disorders.
• Mixed Hyper-/Hypopigmentation Disorders.
• Vitiligo as a Representative of an Acquired Hypopigmented Disorder.

Are nevus cells melanocytes?

Nevus cells, a type of melanocyte, are found in the basal layer of the epidermis as well as in the dermis, are arranged in nests, and do not have dendritic processes.

What is bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation?

Bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome described in elderly patients with advanced systemic carcinomas.44–47 Gass 48 does not consider these tumors to be malignant on the basis of the relatively benign appearance of spindle cells and the rare mitotic figures.

Which conditions are included in the differential diagnoses of benign melanocytic nevi?

The following are considered in the differential diagnosis of benign melanocytic nevi: Atypical Mole (Dysplastic Nevus) Basal Cell Carcinoma Congenital Nevi Lentigo Malignant Melanoma Oral Neurofibroma Seborrheic Keratosis

What is melanocytic proliferation of lentigo maligna?

Melanocytic proliferation typically characterized by both lentiginous junctional spread (similar to lentigo maligna) and irregular nesting and pagetoid spread (similar to superficial spreading type of MIS) Cells are markedly enlarged and atypical to bizarre-appearing

What is the pathophysiology of cutaneous melanoma?

The majority of cutaneous melanomas begin as intraepidermal melanocytic proliferations with or without an associated melanocytic nevus. As a general rule in situ melanomas are characterized by a broad irregular proliferation of atypical melanocytes within the epidermis. Solitary units of melanocytes tend to dominate over nests, at least focally.