Pigmented Lesions of the Skin- A One-Year Study at Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

BACKGROUND Melanocytic proliferations are commonly known as pigmented lesions and they are usually benign (90%), also called as Moles or Nevi. Malignant proliferations melanomas account for about 10%. Histopathological interpretation of these lesions is useful to differentiate non-neoplastic pigmented lesions from neoplastic pigmented lesions. Non-neoplastic pigmented lesions include seborrheic keratosis and pigmented actinic keratosis. Neoplastic pigmented lesions include pigmented basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Malignant transformations can be prevented by early removal of premalignant lesions. Aim-To study all the pigmented lesions, both melanocytic and non-melanocytic, with respect to their clinical features and histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective case series study was conducted at Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, over a period of 1 year (Jan. 2017 -Dec. 2017) on all clinically pigmented lesions that were biopsied or excised. All lesions were analysed with respect to their important clinical and histological features. IHC was carried out using HMB-45 and S-100 where indicated. RESULTSA total of 31 cases were studied. The mean age for benign pigmented lesions was 25 years and male-to-female ratio of 1.2: 1. Mean age for melanomas was 60 years with female preponderance. Majority of the lesions were located on head and neck region. In this study, the commonest benign pigmented lesion was melanocytic nevi and pigmented basal cell carcinoma and melanoma among malignant lesions.