Histopathologic and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Becker's Nevus

BACKGROUND: Becker's nevus (BN) is a unilateral, hairy, pigmented cutaneous hamartoma which frequently appears in adolescence. Several features of BN suggest that increased androgen sensitivity plays a role in its pathogenesis. The diagnosis of BN is usually made clinically. It is sometimes difficult to differentiate BN from other hyperpigmented disorders only by clinical features. However, there have been only few studies of histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of BN, and the etiopathogenesis is not fully established. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of BN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two millimeter punch biopsies were taken from lesional and perilesional normal skin of 30 patients diagnosed as having BN. Each 15 cases with lentigo and cafe au lait spots skin were used as control. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Fontana-Masson, antibodies to GP-100, MART-1, S-100 protein, and androgen receptor (AR). RESULTS: Histopathologic features of BN showed more frequent acanthosis, papillomatosis, keratotic plugging, irregular rete ridge elongation and flattening in the epidermis compared with lentigo and cafe au lait spots. Especially, the shape of rete ridges in BN had relatively characteristic appearance, which was fusion of more than two adjacent rete ridges. Fontana-Masson stain showed that the amount of melanin was significantly increased in BN skin compared with perilesional normal skin. Melanocyte counts were significantly increased in BN skin when stained with antibodies to GP-100 and MART-1. However, there were no significant differences in the number of melanocytes identified as S-100 protein positive cells in three disorders. The extents of AR expression were significant higher in the epidermis of BN. The distributions of AR in most BN (67%) showed marginal to diffuse pattern. CONCLUSION: Our study supports the hypothesis that BN is related to an increase of AR. In diagnosing of BN, the immunohistochemical staining of AR may be helpful in addition to clinicopathologic findings.

Author dc:creator

• 김, 영진

Contributors dc:contributor

• 김, 유찬
• 대학원 의학과
• 200524158

• Becker's nevus
• Androgen
• Melanin
• Melanocyte
• 안드로겐

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000002062
000000002062

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/1383