Pathology
Images
Atlas of dermatopathology
Josef Feit, Hana Jedličková, Günter Burg, Luděk Matyska, Spasoje Radovanovic et al.
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+ Introduction
+ Literature
+ Support
+ Skin biopsy
+ Non-tumorous skin diseases
+ Skin tumors
+ Cysts of the skin and subcutis
+ Soft tissue lesions
+ Some lesions of the oral cavity
+ Dermatovenerology
+ Collection of histological slides by prof. Günter Burg
+ Collection of histological slides by prof. Werner Kempf
+ Collection of histological slides of dr. Ram Chandra Adhikari
Melanocytic tumors
Introduction

Benign melanocytic tumors (melanocytic nevi) and malignant tumors (malignant melanoma, melanoma, melanoblastoma) are tumors of melanocytes, cells of neuroectodermal origin. These cells enter the epidermal basal layer during embryonal development. Later produce melanin, brown pigment, which is taken up by surrounding melanocytes. Melanin stains the epidermis brown and protects the body against UV radiation.

In normal skin the melanocytes are regularly dispersed within the basal layer of the epidermis. Their cytoplasm is pale and nuclei have fine chromatin.

For details concerning pathology of melanocytic lesions refer to the specialized literature.