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Blue Nevus Versus Pigmented Epithelioid Melanocytoma

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Pathology of Challenging Melanocytic Neoplasms

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Abstract

Blue nevi (dermal melanocytomas) and their variants are characterized by melanocytes containing abundant cytoplasmic melanin. These lesions must be distinguished from heavily pigmented melanomas. Pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma (PEM) is a recently described melanocytic tumor with histologic features overlapping blue nevus and melanoma and having a less aggressive clinical course. This chapter highlights the features that help to distinguish these histologically similar lesions. The discussion is expanded to include other lesions (neoplastic and inflammatory) containing abundant melanin and other pigmented material resembling melanin.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Jon A. Reed M.S., M.D.

  2. CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories, 1124 Columbia St., Suite 200, Seattle, WA, 98117, USA

    Jon A. Reed M.S., M.D.

  3. MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Houston, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 85, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Victor G. Prieto M.D., Ph.D.

  4. University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 5067, L502, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Christopher R. Shea M.D.

Authors
  1. Jon A. Reed M.S., M.D.
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  2. Victor G. Prieto M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Christopher R. Shea M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon A. Reed M.S., M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Christopher R. Shea

  2. Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Jon A. Reed

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, Texas, USA

    Victor G. Prieto

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Reed, J.A., Prieto, V.G., Shea, C.R. (2015). Blue Nevus Versus Pigmented Epithelioid Melanocytoma. In: Shea, C., Reed, J., Prieto, V. (eds) Pathology of Challenging Melanocytic Neoplasms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1444-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1444-9_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1443-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1444-9

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