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IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS

In a junctional nevus, the melanocytic nests form at the dermal-epidermal junction.

The nevomelanocytic nests are discrete and located at the tips of the rete ridges

BACKGROUND

Melanocytic nevus also known as a "mole" have many variants and descriptions. Junctional nevus is a term used to describe melanocytic proliferation limited to the dermal-epidermal junction. Intradermal nevus have melanocytic nests located entirely within the dermis and compound nevus have nests located both in the dermal-epidermal junction and dermis.

CLINICAL

Junctional nevus is usually seen as a brown macule clinically, whereas an intradermal nevus is a fleshed colored papule, and a compound nevus is a brown papule. This makes sense based on their depth.

REFERENCES

Rapini RP.Practical Dermatopathology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2005: 263.

Last updated: 2012-02-20
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