Korean J Ophthalmol.  2010 Aug;24(4):237-239. 10.3341/kjo.2010.24.4.237.

Poliosis of Eyelashes as an Unusual Sign of a Halo Nevus

• Kay KM
• Kim JH
• Lee TS

• KMID: 949062
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2010.24.4.237

Abstract

A 39-year-old man with poliosis of his lower eyelid lashes visited our clinic. He reported that his symptoms began with a few central lashes and then spread along the adjacent lashes during the ensuing 2 weeks. A pigmented nevus, approximately 4 mm in diameter, was identified just above the white lashes without surrounding skin depigmentation. No specific findings were identified with regard to the patient's general health or serologic and radiologic testing. Excisional biopsy of the pigmented nevus was performed. On histopathologic examination, infiltration of the dermis by numerous lymphocytes and melanophages was observed. The poliosis was ultimately diagnosed as a presenting sign of the halo phenomenon in the regressive stage of a melanocytic nevus.

Keyword

Halo nevus; Halo phenomenon; Poliosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Diagnosis, Differential
Eyelashes/*pathology
Eyelid Neoplasms/*diagnosis
Hair Diseases/*diagnosis
Humans
Hypopigmentation
Male
Nevus, Halo/*diagnosis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Poliosis with a melanocytic nevus on the central eyelid.

• 

  Fig. 2 No melanocytes are seen in the hair follicles, while melanocytes are observed in the overlying epidermis (H&E, ×40).

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  Fig. 3 Melanocytes (open arrow) in the dermis display maturation with progressive descent, much of the dermal component is obscured by a dense lymphohistiocytic infiltrate (arrow) (H&E, ×40).

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