Korean J Dermatol.  2007 Jan;45(1):90-93.

Three Cases of Melanocytic Nevi with Pseudovascular Spaces

• Lee KH
• Han YW
• Park CJ

Abstract

Melanocytic nevus may be histologically associated with clefts or slits of nests, resembling lymphatic or vascular spaces. This unique histologic feature is known as an artifact of injection or tissue processing. The pseudovascular space may resemble the lymphatic invasion of malignant melanoma. Therefore it is important that dermatologists are aware of this histologic variant of melanoctic nevus in order to prevent misdiagnosis. We report three cases of melanocytic nevi with pseudovascular spaces in a 48-year-old, 43-year-old and 44-year-old women. Histologic examination of one case identified a compound melanocytic nevus and two cases identified intradermal nevi. Nevus cell nests were clustered in the dermis or dermoepidermal junction. Vessel-like spaces also were seen in the nevus cell nest. Immunohistochemically, the cells lining the pseudovascular space were positive for S-100 protein, and negative for factor VIII-related antigen and CD31 stain. We concluded that these spaces were lined by nevomelanocytes and were not truly vascular. We herein report on three melanocytic nevi with pseudovascular spaces.

Keyword

Melanocytic nevus; Pseudovascular space

MeSH Terms

Adult
Artifacts
Dermis
Diagnostic Errors
Female
Humans
Melanoma
Middle Aged
Nevus
Nevus, Intradermal
Nevus, Pigmented*
S100 Proteins
von Willebrand Factor
S100 Proteins
von Willebrand Factor