Histomorphological Heterogeneity of Melanocytic Nevi: Clinicopathological Features and Assessment of Progression Potential
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Melanocytic nevi are the most common benign melanocytic lesions of the skin, which are characterised by significant histomorphological diversity. The assessment of architectural, cytological and stromal features of different histological types of nevi is critically important, both in differential diagnosis and in better understanding their biological behaviour.
The study aimed to assess the histomorphological heterogeneity of different histological types of melanocytic nevi, compare their clinicopathological features and identify morphological signs associated with progression. The retrospective study included histological material from 52 patients diagnosed with different types of melanocytic nevi. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) stained slides were used to assess the histological type of nevus, symmetry, circumscription, maturation, bordering component, Pagetoid spread, cytological atypia, inflammatory infiltrate, fibrosis, solar elastosis, pigmentation, ulcerative changes, and resection margin status. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.
The study showed that melanocytic nevi of different histological types differed significantly in architectural and stromal characteristics. Bordering, intradermal, compound, and blue nevi were mostly symmetrical and well-circumscribed. In contrast, dysplastic and Spitz nevi were more often characterised by asymmetrical architecture, partial maturation, cytological atypia, and inflammatory changes. Recurrences were mainly associated with the dysplastic nevus group and were more common in cases with positive surgical resection margins.
Melanocytic nevi are characterised by marked histomorphological heterogeneity, which depends on their histological type. Routine histomorphological evaluation provides important information on clinicopathological features and morphological signs of progression and serves as a basis for subsequent immunohistochemical and digital pathology studies.
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