We describe 5 cases of compound blue nevus (CBN) (superficial blue nevus with prominent intraepidermal dendritic melanocytes, Kamino nevus). Dermoscopically in 2 of 4 cases the bluish pigmentation characteristic of blue nevi was centrally replaced by a black lamella, with black dots and brown globules also observed in one case, thus revealing a structural asymmetry suggestive of melanoma. Histopathologically, pigmented parakeratosis was the underlying histopathologic finding of black lamella and dots/globules. Immunohistochemistry highlighted the unique histopathologic feature of CBN, namely, single dendritic melanocytes at the dermoepidermal junction with striking intraepidermal prolongations. Our findings confirm that CBN is a distinctive variant of blue nevus that may mimic cutaneous melanoma both clinically and dermoscopically. © 2002 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
Compound blue nevus: A reappraisal of superficial blue nevus with prominent intraepidermal dendritic melanocytes with emphasis on dermoscopic and histopathologic features
ARGENZIANO, Giuseppe;
2002
Abstract
We describe 5 cases of compound blue nevus (CBN) (superficial blue nevus with prominent intraepidermal dendritic melanocytes, Kamino nevus). Dermoscopically in 2 of 4 cases the bluish pigmentation characteristic of blue nevi was centrally replaced by a black lamella, with black dots and brown globules also observed in one case, thus revealing a structural asymmetry suggestive of melanoma. Histopathologically, pigmented parakeratosis was the underlying histopathologic finding of black lamella and dots/globules. Immunohistochemistry highlighted the unique histopathologic feature of CBN, namely, single dendritic melanocytes at the dermoepidermal junction with striking intraepidermal prolongations. Our findings confirm that CBN is a distinctive variant of blue nevus that may mimic cutaneous melanoma both clinically and dermoscopically. © 2002 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.