Pathologists use the term atypical melanocytic proliferation when they see a skin lesion made up of melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment) that does not look completely normal under the microscope. These lesions show some unusual or atypical features but do not have all the features needed to confidently label them as benign (non-cancerous) or …
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A nevus (plural: nevi) is a medical term used to describe a growth or spot on the skin that develops from melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair colour. Most nevi are harmless and commonly called moles, though the term nevus includes various pigmented …
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A dermal nevus is a non-cancerous skin tumour made up of specialized cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. The term “dermal” is used because the melanocytes in a dermal nevus are located in the dermis, a layer of skin below the surface. This type of growth is commonly …
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A compound nevus is a very common non-cancerous type of skin tumour made up of cells called melanocytes. This type of growth is more common in people with light-coloured skin but can be found anywhere on the body. Another name for a compound nevus is a mole, which is a common term used to describe …
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A junctional nevus is a non-cancerous skin tumour made up of specialized cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. The term “junctional” is used because the melanocytes in a junctional nevus are located at the junction between the epidermis and the dermis. This type of growth is commonly called …
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A dysplastic nevus, also called an atypical mole, is a noncancerous type of skin growth made up of melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment and give skin its color. Dysplastic nevi look different from common moles because they have unusual shapes, sizes, or colors. While they are benign (noncancerous) and do not pose an immediate …
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A congenital nevus is a common, non-cancerous skin tumour made up of melanocytes, cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Congenital nevi (the plural of nevus) are usually present at birth or develop within the first year of life, which is why they are called “congenital.” Another name for this …
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