Hypopigmented Reed nevus

The color of skin: black diseases of the skin, nails, and mucosa

Gradations in skin color are a consequence of differing amounts of melanin and their varying distribution. Although many darkly pigmented skin lesions are melanocytic and can be attributed to melanin content, the color of a black lesion can also be due to blood, necrotic tissue, or exogenous pigment. The source, pattern, and distribution of the color in black lesions usually offer important insight into its etiology. This contribution reviews conditions that can take on a black color, discussing the cause of the hue and any additional impact sun exposure may have.

Pigmented Kamino bodies: a little-known histological finding. Prevalence in 19 cases of Reed nevus

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Kamino bodies in Reed nevus, since most studies to date show conflicting data on this issue. This was a retrospective observational study, in which the histopathology of 19 Reed nevus lesions were reviewed. The slides were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff, with a special focus placed on the identification of Kamino bodies. Some clinical data were also collected. The median patient age was 12 years (range of 2 to 58). The women to men ratio was 5:4. Lesions were located on different parts of the body. Kamino bodies were found in eleven lesions (57.89%). five showed pigmented Kamino bodies (26.31%), four non-pigmented Kamino bodies (21,05%), and 2 (10.52%) had both. Kamino bodies, pigmented or not, are a common histological finding in Reed nevus and may well represent a good marker to differentiate these from malignant melanomas.

Pigmented Spindle Cell Nevus of Reed of the Eyelid

Purpose

To report the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical features of the first pigmented spindle cell nevus (PSCN) of Reed documented to have appeared in the eyelid.

Methods

The findings of clinical and histopathological examination are presented, along with differential diagnoses and a review of the pertinent literature.

Case

A 3-year-old boy presented with a rapidly growing, heavily pigmented left lower lid papule raising the concern of malignancy, warranting excisional biopsy. Nests of predominantly junctional Mart-1-positive spindle cells were identified by histopathological examination. The cells were largely uniform in size, elongated, surrounded by granular and coarse melanin, with a Ki-67 proliferation index of 0-2%. Five-month follow-up did not evidence any recurrence or invasive behavior of this benign melanocytic tumor.

Conclusion

This is the first documented case of PSCN of Reed, a distinct entity from Spitz nevus, presenting in the eyelid. The differential diagnoses include spindle cell and superficially spreading malignant melanoma as well as dysplastic nevus. Integration of clinical and histopathological findings with immunohistochemical and fluorescence in situ hybridization markers plays a central role in the diagnosis.

Spitz nevus and Reed nevus

Spitz and Reed nevi, also called spindle and/or epithelioid cell nevi, are a special group of melanocytic lesions due to their peculiar clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological features. The study of these nevi is of great interest because both their nomenclature and classification are still a matter of discussion. Most importantly, the difficulty to differentiate them from melanoma can lead to inadequate therapies. In this context, dermoscopy, a link between clinical and anatomopathological examinations, appears as a helpful diagnostic tool whose accuracy can reach 93%. "Borderline" lesions are still a great challenge and object of research, including molecular studies. The present study explores the relevant characteristics of these nevi, with emphasis on dermoscopic findings, aiming at understanding their natural history, as well as discussing treatment and patient follow-up.

Spitz nevi and other Spitzoid lesions part I. Background and diagnoses

Spitz nevi are melanocytic proliferations that are characterized by spindled and/or epithelioid nevomelanocytes. First interpreted as juvenile melanoma, these lesions were later characterized as benign and were observed to affect all age groups. Today, contrasting opinions persist regarding the fundamental benignancy versus malignancy within the spectrum of Spitz tumors. Beyond clinical outcome, this controversy has also been fueled by complex and sometimes convoluted classification schemes based on pathologic characteristics. More recently, immunophenotypic and molecular analyses have begun to clarify the etiologic nature of these tumors. Recent evidence suggests that histopathologic features that suggest more aggressiveness in Spitz tumors relate to mitoses and inflammation.