Nonmelanized macromelanosomes in a cellular blue nevus. Light and electron microscopic observations. 1989

J A Tschen, and J Cartwright, and R L Font
Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex. 77030.

We noted nonmelanized and partially melanized macromelanosomes in a cellular blue nevus and studied their light microscopic and ultrastructural features. Numerous intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were found in the lesion; individual cells contained up to nine, although most cells demonstrated two or three. The "macromelanosomelike" inclusions ranged in size from 1 to 15 microns. Most of them were partially melanized, and some were nonmelanized. These globules were periodic acid-Schiff positive and diastase resistant, with a centrally melanized core, best seen with the Fontana-Masson technique. S100 protein stained positively the cytoplasm of some nevus cells but not the inclusions. Electron microscopy confirmed the centrifugal melanization of these structures and their targetlike morphologic characteristics. Nine other cellular blue nevi from our files failed to show similar intracytoplasmic inclusions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008543 Melanins Insoluble polymers of TYROSINE derivatives found in and causing darkness in skin (SKIN PIGMENTATION), hair, and feathers providing protection against SUNBURN induced by SUNLIGHT. CAROTENES contribute yellow and red coloration. Allomelanins,Melanin,Phaeomelanins
D008544 Melanocytes Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES. Melanocyte
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009508 Nevus, Pigmented A nevus containing melanin. The term is usually restricted to nevocytic nevi (round or oval collections of melanin-containing nevus cells occurring at the dermoepidermal junction of the skin or in the dermis proper) or moles, but may be applied to other pigmented nevi. Nevus, Melanocytic,Nevi, Melanocytic,Nevi, Pigmented,Pigmented Moles,Melanocytic Nevi,Melanocytic Nevus,Pigmented Nevi,Pigmented Nevus
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012878 Skin Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the SKIN. Cancer of Skin,Skin Cancer,Cancer of the Skin,Neoplasms, Skin,Cancer, Skin,Cancers, Skin,Neoplasm, Skin,Skin Cancers,Skin Neoplasm

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