A histo-pathological study with an emphasis on stratification of pigmented lesions of the skin

Abstract

Pigmented lesions can be close mimickers of melanoma and clinically challenging to diagnose. These can be melanocytic or non-melanocytic pigmented disorders. Pigmented lesions are close mimickers of melanoma and histopathology is a cornerstone for diagnosing these lesions. 1.To study the histomorphological patterns of pigmented lesions of the skin; 2. To categorise and differentiate pigmented lesions from melanoma based on histomorphology.A total of 70 histologically diagnosed cases of pigmented lesions of the skin were retrospectively studied from January 2018 to December 2019 in department of Pathology, of a Tertiary care center, Mangalore (India). Clinically suspicious skin lesions were taken up for the study. Sections from the skin punch biopsies and wide excision of the lesion were processed, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin stain and studied for its histomorphological features.Out of the 70 cases studied, 22 cases were melanocytic lesions including 12 cases of Malignant melanoma (17.1%), Benign Naevi- 10 cases (14.2%) and 48 cases were non-melanocytic lesions including Lichen planus- 30 cases (42%), Seborrheic keratosis- 10 cases (14.3%), Basal cell carcinoma- 8 cases (11.4%).The pigmented lesions are categorised into melanocytic and non melanocytic lesions for a better understanding. Among the Melanocytic lesions, our study witnessed predominantly cutaneous melanoma. And in non melanocytic lesions lichen planus predominated.