Back to Search
Start Over
Pigmented basal cell carcinoma: increased melanin or increased melanocytes?
- Source :
- Journal of Cutaneous Pathology. 43:1139-1142
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2016.
-
Abstract
- Background Studies on the precise cause of increased melanization in pigmented basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are limited. We aimed to determine whether the cause of melanization is from increased number of melanocytes or increased melanin pigment, and if there is a difference in the number of melanocytes on different sun-exposed locations. Methods A retrospective review of 45 skin biopsies from January 2011 to February 2011 was performed; 30 were diagnosed as pigmented BCC and 15 as non-pigmented basal cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry for MART-1 (melanoma-associated antigen recognized by T-cell 1)/Melan-A (clone M2-7610 + M2-9E3; Leica) from Biocare Medical (Concord, CA) was performed on all biopsies. Associations between histopathologic features, number of melanocytes, location, and specific diagnoses were analyzed by Mann Whitney U test. Results The mean melanocyte count per high powered field in pigmented BCCs from sun-exposed skin was 101.9 and from intermittently sun-exposed skin was 122.5, as compared to the controls (nodular non-pigmented BCC) of 27.4 (p = 0.002) and 34.9 (p = 0.002), respectively. Conclusions Pigmented BCCs have a higher mean melanocyte count as compared to non-pigmented BCCs irrespective of location. Therefore, the pigment is not only due to increased melanin, but also due to increased melanocytes.
- Subjects :
- Pathology
medicine.medical_specialty
Histology
Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
integumentary system
Clone (cell biology)
Dermatology
Biology
Melanocyte
medicine.disease
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Melanin
030207 dermatology & venereal diseases
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
medicine.anatomical_structure
Antigen
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
medicine
Immunohistochemistry
Basal cell carcinoma
sense organs
Melanin pigment
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03036987
- Volume :
- 43
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........35db94dc4204d22d4be3d1f585d70b15