FAQ: What Is Lentiginous Junctional Nevus?

The term lentiginous junctional nevus is used for junctional nevi in which the epidermis has lentigo-like features with elongated and pigmented epidermal rete ridges. In lentiginous nevi, there is typically a proliferation of solitary units and nests.

What does Lentiginous junctional nevus mean?

Junctional Nevi are a sub-class of Common Acquired Melanocytic Nevi. Typically they are light to dark brown macules, 1-10 mm in diameter, and located on sun exposed areas such as the trunk. Junctional Nevi are benign proliferations of melanocytes in the epidermis.

Is a junctional nevus cancerous?

A junctional nevus is a non-cancerous type of growth made up of melanocytes. Junctional nevi are usually seen in individuals of lighter skin complexion and can be found anywhere on the body.

Is lentiginous nevus cancerous?

Background: Atypical lentiginous nevus (of the elderly) is a peculiar form of dysplastic nevus. Clinically, this condition can resemble malignant melanoma and histologically, it has a lentiginous pattern with variable degrees of atypia and an absence of dermal nests.

What is a junctional nevus?

Listen to pronunciation. (JUNK-shuh-nul NEE-vus) A type of nevus (mole) found at the junction (border) between the epidermis (outer) and the dermis (inner) layers of the skin. These moles may be colored and slightly raised.

How do I get rid of junctional nevus?

Is Removal Possible? Small nevi can be removed by simple surgical excision. The nevus is cut out, and the adjacent skin stitched together leaving a small scar. Removal of a large congenital nevus, however, requires replacement of the affected skin.

Can nodular melanoma be treated?

Treatment for Nodular Melanoma Nodular melanoma is highly curable when diagnosed early. However, because nodular melanoma grows so quickly, it is often found at a more advanced stage. The goals for treatment of nodular melanoma are to: cure the cancer.

What is Lentiginous?

Lentiginous is a descriptive term of a pattern of melanocytic growth as individual cells along the dermal epidermal junction.

Does junctional nevus grow?

Junctional nevi will typically grow to be 3 or 4 mm across, stop growing sideways, and begin to evolve into a compound nevus. This evolution continues through the compound nevus stage to the dermal nevus stage. In the dermal nevus all of the melanocytes are in the dermis.

What is the difference between a mole and a nevus?

Nevus (plural: nevi) is the medical term for a mole. Nevi are very common. Most people have between 10 and 40. Common nevi are harmless collections of colored cells.

Is junctional nevus benign?

Junctional nevi are benign melanocytic neoplasms in which nests are seen exclusively in the epidermis, predominantly at the dermoepidermal junction (Figs.

What is a lentiginous proliferation?

Lentiginous melanoma is a proliferation of malignant pigment cells (melanocytes) along the basal layer of the epidermis. The precursor lesion is an atypical solar lentigo or a lentiginous / junctional naevus.

What is a junctional component?

A, The junctional component is composed of large and expansile melanocytic nests of varying shapes and sizes. B, In areas, a lentiginous growth pattern of atypical melanocytes is observed, and focal Pagetoid spread is present (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnifications 3100 [A] and 3200 [B]).

Should you remove dysplastic nevus?

Dysplastic nevi can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. Mild is closer to benign, while moderate to severe is closer to melanoma. When diagnosed, most dermatologists will recommend that severe dysplastic nevi be removed as a precaution.

Is a compound nevus benign or malignant?

Compound naevi are considered to be benign neoplasms of melanocytes if they arise in later life. Compound naevi arise from a flat (junctional) naevus that exists earlier in life and may have a raised central portion of deeper pigmentation with surrounding tan-brown macular pigmentation.

What does nevus look like?

A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. A dysplastic nevus is often large and does not have a round or oval shape or a distinct edge. It may have a mixture of pink, tan, or brown shades.