Volume 51, Issue 3 pp. 184-192
CASE STUDY

Blaschkoid melanotic cutaneous lupus erythematosus with “melanocytic nests”

Gianmarco Diego Bigotto MD

Gianmarco Diego Bigotto MD

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

Search for more papers by this author
Antonio Podo-Brunetti MD

Corresponding Author

Antonio Podo-Brunetti MD

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

Correspondence

Antonio Podo-Brunetti, Dermatology Clinic, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60 20132 Milan, Italy.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
Giorgio Stabile MD

Giorgio Stabile MD

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

Search for more papers by this author
Valentina Caputo MD

Valentina Caputo MD

Department of Surgical Pathology, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy

Search for more papers by this author
Stefania Guida MD, PhD

Stefania Guida MD, PhD

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

Dermatology Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

Search for more papers by this author
Lucia Brambilla MD

Lucia Brambilla MD

Unit of Dermatology, Maggiore Polyclinic Hospital, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

Search for more papers by this author
Franco Rongioletti MD

Franco Rongioletti MD

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

Dermatology Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 15 November 2023

Abstract

Melanotic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) is a newly described clinical variant of chronic cutaneous LE, presenting with localized or diffuse brownish or grayish macular and reticulated pigmentation in the absence of erythema, scaling, atrophy, scarring, or telangiectasia. The diagnosis is based upon histopathology, which demonstrates the characteristic features of LE with an interface vacuolar dermatitis with melanophages, and a superficial and deep, perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic infiltrate with mucin deposition. Herein, we describe a case of a 61-year-old White male presenting with melanotic cutaneous LE with a blaschkoid distribution on his face in which the histopathological phenomenon of “true melanocytic nests” in the setting of a lichenoid pattern was seen. We want to highlight how nests of cellular aggregates at the dermoepidermal junction labeling with melanocytic markers may occur in the setting of an interface tissue reaction. This benign reactional pattern may mimic atypical melanocytic proliferations, especially on sun-damaged skin. Clinicopathological correlation and careful microscopic examination using a panel of multiple melanocytic markers is crucial for making an accurate final diagnosis. All the cases of melanotic cutaneous LE reported in the literature are also reviewed.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.