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Nevoid Malignant Melanoma vs. Melanocytic Nevus

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Pathology of Challenging Melanocytic Neoplasms

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Abstract

Malignant melanomas that histologically resemble ordinary benign melanocytic nevi remain one of the most difficult diagnoses in dermatopathology. These diagnostically challenging malignant neoplasms have been described in the literature using variable terminology in part due to their low incidence and to the paucity of large inter-institutional studies with long-term clinical follow-up. This chapter highlights the histological and immunohistochemical features that help distinguish nevoid melanomas from ordinary nevi. These features are further discussed in the expanded differential diagnosis with other unusual melanocytic neoplasms (benign and malignant) that also must be considered.

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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). Nevoid Malignant Melanoma vs. Melanocytic Nevus. 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_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1444-9_8

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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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