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This site is dedicated to a discussion of a borderland in the continuum of melanocytic neoplasia. Emphasis is placed on the continuum of common melanocytic neoplasia as manifested in the common premalignant dysplasia-melanoma sequence. The borderland is approached by a presentation of a group of thin, primary melanomas that produced a recurrence or metastasis. This material was collected in the 1970’s from materials of the 1960’s, and 1970’s. The photomicrographs date from the late 1970’s and the early 1980’s. In this old study of these thin, young lesions, one surprise was the commonness of “nevoid” patterns. I did not search for, or request, a preference for MDM of nevoid type, or thin “nevoid” lesions. Instead, I requested thin “melanomas” which had recurred, or metastasized. This is old material that was never published. Events in life interrupted the study; the follow-up is incomplete; it cannot be completed. There is little in the way of clinico-pathologic correlation.
This section is structured in 3 tiers. The first tier is HOME. The second tier is composed of textual chapters. The third tier is pictorial in nature. The HEADING for each chapter identifies the chapter number and the tier (i.e., level 1, 2, or 3).
There are sets of navigation bars in the Master Border to the left. The first set is a “first level” cluster providing access to the first and second tiers. In this cluster, chapters 8,9,& 10 are parent chapters. A click on one of theses chapters will also provide access to respective pictorials at tier 3. Four pictorial chapters are associated with chapter 8; five pictorial chapters are associated with chapter 9; and four pictorial chapters are associated with chapter 10.
The second navigation bar is entitled: General Index. It provides access to the general index for this site. A third navigation bar is entitled: Up to parent chapter. It provides access to the parent chapter for pictorials at level III.
The fourth navigation bar provides access to the pictorials at level (tier) 3.
There is a fifth navigation bar (first level type) at the end of each chapter. There is also a bar (NEXT PAGE) at the end of each chapter that takes the reader to the next chapter in sequence along the plane of the respective tier.
I doubt that all visitors to this site will wade through all of the chapters of this section; most of the chapters at tier 2 have a philosophical bent. For the less interested, or more impatient, the reader can go to chapters c8t2, c9t2, and c10t2. Each of these chapters is a parent for groups of pictorials at level 3. The other chapters at level 2 provide a more general discussion of the characteristics, and biologic implications of thin melanomas. The reader can also access the pictorials at level 3 by selecting underlined figures from the list in the following IMAGE MAP.
Image Map:
In the following list, these definitions apply:
1) lesions in vertical growth measuring 1.5 mm or less in vertical dimensions are melanocytic neoplasms of indeterminate malignant potential
2) lesions in vertical growth, and 1mm or less in vertical dimensions are borderline variants
3) lesions in vertical growth in the range of 1 to 1.5 mm in vertical dimensions are intermediate variants.
Fig. c16t3P1-3: thin SSM, variant and typical vertical growth, focal arrested patterns, 0.6 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
Fig. c16t3P4 & 5, & c17t3P1-3: nevoid MDM, maturation, 0.69 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
Fig. c18t3P: verrucoid, nevoid MDM, 0.83 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
Fig. c19t3P1-5: common nevus-like MDM, 1.31 mm, intermediate melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
Fig.c20t3P1-8: Spitz-like MDM, moderately severe dysplasia, <0.75 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
Fig. c21t3P1-4: nevoid MDM arising in pre-existing nevus, typical vertical growth pattern, melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate type;
c22t3p1-7: nevoid MDM, high grade dysplasia, maturation, 0.69 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential; c23t3P1-4: recurrence of nevoid MDM;
c24t3P1-4: thin common melanoma with regression, 0.84 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
c25t3P1-6: juvenile melanoma, step 2 type (MDM of Spitz-like type), radial growth, moderately severe dysplasia, typical vertical growth, 1.50 mm, intermediate melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential; c26t3P1-6: juvenile melanoma, higher magnifications;
c27t3p1-6: thin common melanoma, high grade dysplasia, variant and typical vertical growth, 1.25 mm, intermediate melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential;
c28t3P1-8: MDM of common nevus-like type, small epithelioid cell type, 0.57 mm, borderline melanocytic neoplasia of indeterminate malignant potential.
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