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It is sometimes difficult to distinguish malignant melanoma in situ (MIS) from solar lentigo (SL) on chronically sun-damaged skin (CSDS). The multitude of studies in the literature regarding techniques for resolving this conundrum indicates the necessity for reproducible criteria. These authors explore potential roles for microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF-1), melanocyte density, and nuclear size in separating these entities.
The investigators studied 28 specimens (14 SLs and 14 MISs) from the head and neck. They used the nuclear stain MITF-1 to count melanocyte density within a 200-µm area; the nuclear diameter was obtained by measuring the short axis of the three largest melanocytes within the area. Hematoxylin and eosin …