ABSTRACT
Introduction: A retrospective study of melanocytic naevi was undertaken to assess the degree of clinico-pathological correlation and incidence of histological atypia.
Materials and Methods: The case records from January to March 1996 of all patients with histologically diagnosed melanocytic naevi at the National Skin Centre were analysed. Results: Of the 240 lesions removed from 167 patients, the majority being women (111/167 patients), it was found that 55% (132/240) were correctly diagnosed. Fourteen per cent were mistaken for nonmelanocytic lesions, namely skin tag, neurofibroma, syringoma cylindroma, epidermal naevus, naevus sebaceous and basal cell carcinoma. Most of the lesions were located on the cheeks and eyelids. Junctional naevi, followed by compound naevi were often missed. Histological dysplasia were seen in 7 naevi; 6 compound and 1 congenital naevi. There was a lack of clinico-pathological concordance in dysplastic naevi. Conclusions: The clinico-pathological concordance of melanocytic naevi was high, with low incidence of atypia on histology.Melanocytic naevi are benign proliferation of melanocytes of congenital and acquired types which usually appear during adolescence or early adult life. Naevi are of three common subtypes i.e. junctional, compound and intradermal melanocytic naevi, with characteristic clinical appearance that aids in clinical diagnosis.
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