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Ultrastructural studies of halo nevus
Author(s) -
Hashimoto Ken
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197411)34:5<1653::aid-cncr2820340513>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - melanosome , depigmentation , melanocyte , lesion , dermis , ultrastructure , pathology , epidermis (zoology) , nevus , dermoepidermal junction , medicine , anatomy , biology , dermatology , melanoma , melanin , cancer research , genetics
Electron microscopic studies were performed on two lesions of halo nevus developed from compound nevi; one still showing an active progression of depigmentation, and another, an old flat lesion, showing a complete loss of pigment. In the active lesion, melanocytes (or nevus cells) in the epidermis and dermis showed an enlargement of what was interpreted as melanosome membrane leading to large cytoplasmic vacuole formation by coalescence. These melanocytes also showed autophagocytosis of preformed melanosomes in their own lysosomes. In the old, depigmented lesion, melanocytes were completely absent, and numerous Langerhans' cells occupied the basal layer.