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January 2004

Dermoscopy of Melanocytic Neoplasms: Subpatterns of Dysplastic/Atypical Nevi

Author Affiliations
 

JAMES M.GRICHNIKMD, PhD

Arch Dermatol. 2004;140(1):142. doi:10.1001/archderm.140.1.142

THE LESIONS SHOWN ARE FROM THE RIGHT mid-back of a 25-year-old Asian man (Figure 1), right upper back of a 33-year-old white man (Figure 2), and right lower abdomen of a 31-year-old white woman (Figure 3) (size bar, 5 mm). All 3 lesions reveal a relatively similar pattern. The lesions are surrounded by a brown dot pattern rather than a sharply defined network pattern. Centrally, the lesions also lack sharp network pattern and instead display a diffuse, somewhat mottled pattern generally of the same color at the edges but of differing shades. The lesions were identified as "dysplastic" (atypical) nevi having mild (Figure 1) and moderate (Figure 2 and Figure 3) cytologic atypia. This pattern of "dysplastic" nevi is relatively common. This pattern is potentially reflective of an active growth state (peripheral dots) as well as a unique underlying genetic mutation or local environmental interaction.

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