Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
Volume 11, Issue 3 , Pages 160-175 , June 2007

Melanocytic “ball-in-mitts” and “microalveolar structures” and their role in the development of cellular blue nevi

Presented in part at the 96th annual meeting of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, March 24-30, 2007, San Diego, Calif.

References 

  1. Rodriguez HA, Ackerman LV. Cellular blue nevus. Clinicopathologic study of forty-five cases. Cancer. 1968;21:393–405
  2. Collina G, Annessi G, Di Gregorio C. Cellular blue naevus associated with osteoma cutis. Histopathology. 1991;19:473–475
  3. Ackerman AB, Cerroni L, Kerl H. Pitfalls in histopathologic diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1994;
  4. Harvell JD, White WL. Persistent and recurrent blue nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1999;21:506–517
  5. Hoos A, Berho M, Blumencranz PW, Brady MS. Giant cellular blue nevus of the anterior chest wall mimicking metastatic melanoma to the breast: a case report. J Surg Oncol. 2000;74:278–281
  6. Maize JC, McCalmont TH, Carlson JA, Busam KJ, Kutzner H, Bastian BC. Genomic analysis of blue nevi and related dermal melanocytic proliferations. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29:1214–1220
  7. Massi G, LeBoit PE. Histological diagnosis of nevi and melanoma. Darmstadt: Steinkopff-Verlag; 2004;
  8. Barnhill RL, Piepkorn M, Busam K. Pathology of melanocytic nevi and malignant melanoma. 2nd ed.. New York: Springer; 2004;
  9. Temple-Camp CR, Saxe N, King H. Benign and malignant cellular blue nevus. A clinicopathological study of 30 cases. Am J Dermatopathol. 1988;10:289–296
  10. Unna PG. Naevi und naevocarcinome. Berliner Klin Wochenschr. 1893;30:14–16
  11. Maize JC, Foster G. Age-related changes in melanocytic naevi. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1979;4:49–58
  12. Brogelli L, De Giorgi V, Bini F, Giannotti B. Melanocytic naevi: clinical features and correlation with the phenotype in healthy young males in Italy. Br J Dermatol. 1991;125:349–352
  13. Worret WI, Burgdorf WH. Which direction do nevus cells move? Abtropfung reexamined. Am J Dermatopathol. 1998;20:135–139
  14. Krengel S. Nevogenesis—new thoughts regarding a classical problem. Am J Dermatopathol. 2005;27:456–465
  15. Michal M. Cellular blue naevi with microalveolar pattern—a type of naevus frequently confused with melanoma. Pathol Res Pract. 1998;194:83–86
  16. Pulitzer DR, Martin PC, Cohen AP, Reed RJ. Histologic classification of the combined nevus. Analysis of the variable expression of melanocytic nevi. Am J Surg Pathol. 1991;15:1111–1122
  17. Robson A, Morley-Quante M, Hempel H, McKee PH, Calonje E. Deep penetrating naevus: clinicopathological study of 31 cases with further delineation of histological features allowing distinction from other pigmented benign melanocytic lesions and melanoma. Histopathology. 2003;43:529–537
  18. Groben PA, Harvell JD, White WL. Epithelioid blue nevus: neoplasm Sui generis or variation on a theme?. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000;22:473–488
  19. Weedon D. Skin pathology. 2nd ed.. London: Churchill Livingston; 2002;
  20. Magana-Garcia M, Ackerman AB. What are nevus cells?. Am J Dermatopathol. 1990;12:93–102
  21. Babaian A, Ackerman AB. Bogus concept: “blue nevus”. Dermatopathol Pract Concept. 2004;10:Available at www.derm101.com
  22. Calonje E, Blessing K, Glusac EJ, Strutton GM. Blue naevi. In:  Weedon D,  Burg G,  LeBoit PE,  Sarasin A editor. World Health Organization classification of tumours. Pathology and genetics of tumours of the skin. Lyon: IARC Press; 2005;p. 95–99
  23. Masson P. My conception of cellular nevi. Cancer. 1951;4:9–38
  24. Allen AC, Spitz S. Malignant melanoma: a clinicopathological analysis of the criteria for diagnosis and prognosis. Cancer. 1953;6:1–45
  25. Gartmann H. Blue neuronevus of Masson—cellular blue nevus Allen. Arch Klin Exp Dermatol. 1965;221:109–121
  26. Maize JC, Ackerman AB. Pigmented lesions of the skin. Clinicopathologic correlations. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1987;
  27. Seab JA, Graham JH, Helwig EB. Deep penetrating nevus. Am J Surg Pathol. 1989;13:39–44
  28. Elder DE, Murphy GF. Atlas of tumor pathology. Third series, fascicle 2. Melanocytic tumors of the skin. Washington, DC: American Forces Institute of Pathology; 1990;
  29. Mihm MC, Googe PB. Problematic pigmented lesions. A case method approach. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1990;
  30. Cooper PH. Deep penetrating (plexiform spindle cell) nevus. A frequent participant in combined nevus. J Cutan Pathol. 1992;19:172–180
  31. Gonzalez-Campora R, Galera-Davidson H, Vazquez-Ramirez FJ, Diaz-Cano S. Blue nevus: classical types and new related entities. A differential diagnostic review. Pathol Res Pract. 1994;190:627–635
  32. LeBoit PE. Stimulants of malignant melanoma: a rogue's gallery of melanocytic and nonmelanocytic imposters. Pathology (Phila). 1994;2:195–258
  33. Elder D, Elenitsas R, Johnson B, Ioffreda M, Miller JJ, Miller OF. Synopsis and atlas of Lever's histopathology of the skin. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999;
  34. Misago N. The relationship between melanocytes and peripheral nerve sheath cells (part II): blue nevus with peripheral nerve sheath differentiation. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000;22:230–236
  35. Crowson AN, Magro CM, Mihm MC. The melanocytic proliferations. A comprehensive textbook of pigmented lesions. New York: Wiley-Liss; 2001;
  36. High WA, Alanen KW, Golitz LE. Is melanocytic nevus with focal atypical epithelioid components (clonal nevus) a superficial variant of deep penetrating nevus?. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:460–466
  37. Edler DE, Murphy GF. Melanocytic tumors of the skin. Washington (DC): AFIP; 1991;
  38. Ackerman AB, Magana-Garcia M. Naming acquired melanocytic nevi. Unna's, Miescher's, Spitz's, Clark's. Am J Dermatopathol. 1990;12:193–209
  39. Ackerman AB, Milde P. Naming acquired melanocytic nevi. Common and dysplastic, normal and atypical, or Unna, Miescher, Spitz, and Clark?. Am J Dermatopathol. 1992;14:447–453
  40. Schmoeckel C. Classification of melanocytic nevi: do nodular and flat nevi develop differently?. Am J Dermatopathol. 1997;19:31–34
  41. Ball NJ, Golitz LE. Melanocytic nevi with focal atypical epithelioid cell components: a review of seventy-three cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;30:724–729
  42. Barnhill RL, Mihm MC, Magro CM. Plexiform spindle cell naevus: a distinctive variant of plexiform melanocytic naevus. Histopathology. 1991;18:243–247
  43. Schrader WA, Helwig EB. Balloon cell nevi. Cancer. 1967;20:1502–1514
  44. Modlin RL, Gottlieb B, Taylor C, Rea TH. Identification of cells lining pseudovascular spaces of benign pigmented nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1984;6(Suppl):25–29
  45. Van Paesschen MA, Goovaerts G, Buyssens N. A study of the so-called neurotization of nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1990;12:242–248
  46. Gray MH, Smoller BR, McNutt NS, Hsu A. Neurofibromas and neurotized melanocytic nevi are immunohistochemically distinct neoplasms. Am J Dermatopathol. 1990;12:234–241
  47. Michal M, Baumruk L, Skalova A. Myxoid change within cellular blue naevi: a diagnostic pitfall. Histopathology. 1992;20:527–530
  48. Michal M. Mucinous naevocellular naevi. Dermatology. 1994;188:232–235
  49. Michal M, Kerekes Z, Kinkor Z, Ondrias F, Pizinger K. Desmoplastic cellular blue nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1995;17:230–235
  50. Williams BT, Barr RJ. Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis in nevi. A possible marker for atypia. Am J Dermatopathol. 1996;18:156–158
  51. Argenyi ZB, Rodgers J, Wick M. Expression of nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors in neural nevi with nevic corpuscles. Am J Dermatopathol. 1996;18:460–464
  52. Mehregan DR, Mehregan DA, Mehregan AH. Nodular myxoid change in melanocytic nevi. A report of two cases. Am J Dermatopathol. 1996;18:400–402
  53. Cohen LM, Bennion SD, Johnson TW, Golitz LE. Hypermelanotic nevus: clinical, histopathologic, and ultrastructural features in 316 cases. Am J Dermatopathol. 1997;19:23–30
  54. Bhawan J, Cao SL. Amelanotic blue nevus: a variant of blue nevus. Am J Dermatopathol. 1999;21:225–228
  55. Perez MT, Suster S. Balloon cell change in cellular blue nevus. Am J Dermatopathol. 1999;21:181–184
  56. Misago N. The relationship between melanocytes and peripheral nerve sheath cells (part I): melanocytic nevus (excluding so-called “blue nevus”) with peripheral nerve sheath differentiation. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000;22:217–229
  57. Kroumpouzos G, Cohen LM. Intradermal melanocytic nevus with prominent schwannian differentiation. Am J Dermatopathol. 2002;24:39–42
  58. Zembowicz A, Granter SR, McKee PH, Mihm MC. Amelanotic cellular blue nevus: a hypopigmented variant of the cellular blue nevus: clinicopathologic analysis of 20 cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 2002;26:1493–1500
  59. Conlin PA, Rapini RP. Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis associated with melanocytic nevi: a report of 53 cases. Am J Dermatopathol. 2002;24:23–25
  60. Mishima Y. Cellular blue nevus. Melanogenic activity and malignant transformation. Arch Dermatol. 1970;101:104–110
  61. Reiss RF, Gray GF. Malignant blue nevus. Occurrence with aggressive behavior. N Y State J Med. 1975;75:1749–1751
  62. Connelly J, Smith JL. Malignant blue nevus. Cancer. 1991;67:2653–2657
  63. Requena L, Barat A, Hasson A, et al. Malignant combined nevus. Am J Dermatopathol. 1991;13:169–173
  64. Mehregan DA, Gibson LE, Mehregan AH. Malignant blue nevus: a report of eight cases. J Dermatol Sci. 1992;4:185–192
  65. Tran TA, Carlson JA, Basaca PC, Mihm MC. Cellular blue nevus with atypia (atypical cellular blue nevus): a clinicopathologic study of nine cases. J Cutan Pathol. 1998;25:252–258
  66. Spatz A, Zimmermann U, Bachollet B, Pautier P, Michel G, Duvillard P. Malignant blue nevus of the vulva with late ovarian metastasis. Am J Dermatopathol. 1998;20:408–412
  67. Busam KJ. Metastatic melanoma to the skin simulating blue nevus. Am J Surg Pathol. 1999;23:276–282
  68. Granter SR, McKee PH, Calonje E, Mihm MC, Busam K. Melanoma associated with blue nevus and melanoma mimicking cellular blue nevus: a clinicopathologic study of 10 cases on the spectrum of so-called ‘malignant blue nevus’. Am J Surg Pathol. 2001;25:316–323
  69. Ariyanayagam-Baksh SM, Baksh FK, Finkelstein SD, Swalsky PA, Abernethy J, Barnes EL. Malignant blue nevus: a case report and molecular analysis. Am J Dermatopathol. 2003;25:21–27
  70. Mones JM, Ackerman AB. “Atypical” blue nevus, “malignant” blue nevus, and “metastasizing” blue nevus: a critique in historical perspective of three concepts flawed fatally. Am J Dermatopathol. 2004;26:407–430
  71. Carney JA, Ferreiro JA. The epithelioid blue nevus. A multicentric familial tumor with important associations, including cardiac myxoma and psammomatous melanotic schwannoma. Am J Surg Pathol. 1996;20:259–272
  72. Zembowicz A, Carney JA, Mihm MC. Pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma: a low-grade melanocytic tumor with metastatic potential indistinguishable from animal-type melanoma and epithelioid blue nevus. Am J Surg Pathol. 2004;28:31–40
  73. Scolyer RA, Thompson JF, Warnke K, McCarthy SW. Pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma. Am J Surg Pathol. 2004;28:1114–1115[author reply 1115-6]
  74. White S, Chen S. What is “pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma?”. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29:1118;[author reply 1118-9]
  75. Zembowicz A. What is “pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma?”. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29:1119
  76. Benz G, Holzel D, Schmoeckel C. Inflammatory cellular infiltrates in melanocytic nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1991;13:538–542
  77. Kazakov DV, Kutzner H, Rutten A, et al. The anti-MAGE antibody B57 as a diagnostic marker in melanocytic lesions. Am J Dermatopathol. 2004;26:102–107
  78. Sun J, Morton TH, Gown AM. Antibody HMB-45 identifies the cells of blue nevi. An immunohistochemical study on paraffin sections. Am J Surg Pathol. 1990;14:748–751
  79. Wood WS, Tron VA. Analysis of HMB-45 immunoreactivity in common and cellular blue nevi. J Cutan Pathol. 1991;18:261–263
  80. Skelton HG, Smith KJ, Barrett TL, Lupton GP, Graham JH. HMB-45 staining in benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. A reflection of cellular activation. Am J Dermatopathol. 1991;13:543–550
  81. Nakai T, Rappaport H. A study of the histogenesis of experimental melanotic tumors resembling cellular blue nevi: the evidence in support of their neurogenic origin. Am J Pathol. 1963;43:175–199
  82. Merkow LP, Burt RC, Hayeslip DW, Newton FJ, Slifkin M, Pardo M. A cellular and malignant blue nevus: a light and electron microscopic study. Cancer. 1969;24:888–896
  83. Bhawan J, DeGirolami U, Edelstein LM. Multiple layers of basement membrane around myelinated and unmyelinated fibers in cellular blue nevus. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 1977;38:243–245
  84. Fetsch JF, Michal M, Miettinen M. Pigmented (melanotic) neurofibroma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis of 19 lesions from 17 patients. Am J Surg Pathol. 2000;24:331–343
  85. Barnhill RL, Barnhill MA, Berwick M, Mihm MC. The histologic spectrum of pigmented spindle cell nevus: a review of 120 cases with emphasis on atypical variants. Hum Pathol. 1991;22:52–58
  86. Levene A. On the natural history and comparative pathology of the blue naevus. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1980;62:327–334
  87. Zembowicz A, Mihm MC. Dermal dendritic melanocytic proliferations: an update. Histopathology. 2004;45:433–451

PII: S1092-9134(07)00049-4

doi: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2007.03.001

Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
Volume 11, Issue 3 , Pages 160-175 , June 2007