Pathologists use the term atypical melanocytic proliferation to describe a skin growth composed of melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment) that does not appear completely normal under the microscope. The growth shows some unusual or atypical features, but not all of the features needed to confidently call it benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). It is best thought of …
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A nevus (plural: nevi) is the medical term for a growth or spot on the skin that develops from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin and hair their color. Most nevi are harmless and are commonly called moles, although the term nevus covers a wide range of pigmented and non-pigmented …
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A junctional nevus is a common, noncancerous (benign) skin growth made up of cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. The word “junctional” describes where these cells sit: at the junction between the two main layers of the skin, the epidermis (the …
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A Spitz nevus is a noncancerous (benign) skin growth and a type of mole. Like other moles, it is made up of cells called melanocytes, the cells in the skin that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. The growth is named after Dr. Sophie Spitz, the pathologist who first described it. Spitz …
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A congenital nevus is a common, noncancerous (benign) skin growth made up of cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. These growths are called “congenital” because they are usually present at birth or appear within the first year of life. Another name …
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