Melanoma in Situ with Epidermal Effacement: A Compelling Adjunctive Finding

Abstract

Since many studies have shown the discordant diagnoses of melanocytic lesions among pathologists despite the existence of an established histologic criteria, we sought to refine the histologic criteria by finding an additional reliable and reproducible objective histopathologic feature, to aid in the diagnosis of melanoma in situ. We performed a retrospective analysis of 100 cases, histologically diagnosed as melanoma in situ and compared to a study control group consisting of junctional benign melanocytic nevi. The epidermis of all the melanocytic lesions were examined for epidermal effacement. Examination of the epidermis in the study group revealed absence of epidermal effacement in only seven (10%) cases, whereas ninety‐three (93%) cases showed absence of rete ridges in some foci, making this an overwhelming majority finding in the cases examined. These results serve as a compelling adjunctive finding that can be used to increase the histologic diagnostic accuracy of melanoma in situ.

Clinical utility of microRNA-378 as early diagnostic biomarker of human cancers: a meta-analysis of diagnostic test

“…miRNA-378 could promote the expression of proto-oncogenes through targeted localization and inhibiting the BTG (B-cell translocation gene) prohibiting. In addition, miR-378 could be the downstream targeted site of the c-Myc oncoprotein, which was involved in stable transfection of miR-378 resulted in cell survival, tumor growth and angiogenesis [ 32 ]. These possible mechanisms make miRNA-378 become a potential biomarker of detecting cancers.…”

Epidermal consumption in benign and malignant melanocytic neoplasms

“…Our study was designed to assess the diagnostic value of this form of epidermal consumption. It should be noted that some authors have used the term ‘epidermal effacement’ as a synonym for consumption, while others have used the term effacement to refer to epidermal atrophy and loss of the rete ridge pattern over a broad expanse of the epidermis . At national meetings, the senior author (Dr Elston) noted recurring questions regarding the significance of nests appearing to consume the epidermis in the absence of adjacent epidermal effacement.…”