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Few studies have compared melanocyte densities in inhabitants of areas with different levels of solar exposure. These investigators analyzed the density of melanocytes in sun-exposed, nonlesional skin from patients (50 Florida residents and 50 Minnesota residents) who had undergone Mohs surgery for basal and squamous cell carcinomas. They examined melanocytic density, confluence, pagetoid spread, and growth along hair follicles in paraffin-fixed sections stained by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Melan-A.
The two stains produced differing results: Mean melanocyte density per high-power field (HPF) was 9.3 with H&E and 12.0 with Melan-A. Melanocyte density was higher in Florida residents with H&E staining and in men with Melan-A staining; the num…