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OBJECTIVE: To show reports on the surgical treatment of vitiligo with melanocytes, the cell culture techniques used and which is the most used technique. METHODOLOGY: PubMed, Ovid, Clinical Trials, Cochrane, and SciELO were searched up to 2021 for human clinical studies in patients with vitiligo, comparing the efficacy of melanocyte transplantation. We used the keywords "vitiligo" AND "transplantation". The Cochrane risk of bias tool was applied for quality assessment. RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-seven articles were found. We excluded 497 studies, only 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous cell transplantation from cultured melanocytes is an effective treatment, but is limited by its invasive feature. More standardized clinical trials are required to assess repigmentation following cell transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is the most common acquired skin depigmentation. It is characterized by acromic macules that affect the self-image of patients and negatively impact their quality of life. Among the theories about the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo, is autoimmunity. Vitamin D deficiency has been demonstrated in numerous autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D is an essential hormone with pleiotropic effects, and especially antiapoptotic functions and modifiers of the proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes. Hypothetically, it can play a coadjuvant role in the repigmentation of vitiliginous lesions. The immunoregulatory activity of vitamin D could be used in the treatment of vitiligo. Next, there is a review of the subject on vitiligo, its relationship with the concentrations of vitamin D and the influences that could have on the physiopathology. In addition, its possible use as a therapeutic tool for vitiligo is analyzed. The behavior of vitamin D levels in deficiency and insufficiency ranges between vitiligo patients and healthy controls are controversial, some show lower levels in the vitiligo group and others do not show differences between the groups. Despite the above, recent studies suggest a relationship between vitamin D insufficiency in patients with vitiligo and a higher risk of suffering from other autoimmune diseases and that the use of high doses of vitamin D in patients with vitiligo could improve the repigmentation. The information reviewed allows us to conclude that the relationship between vitiligo and vitamin D levels requires more studies to clarify its role in immunopathogenesis and the likelihood of recommending its therapeutic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanocytic tumors and melanomas in domestic animals include neoplasms composed of melanin-producing cells. In cattle, these tumors are rare and mostly benign, while malignant tumors are almost non-existent. The article reports the case of a female crossbred cow 38 months of age with a fluctuating mass located between the mandibular border and the left parotid region, about three months duration, with evident growth in the last thirty days. After surgical excision, a sample preserved in buffered formalin (10%) was sent to the Laboratory of Pathology (University of Nariño)--consisting of a fragment of 7.0 × 10.5 × 8.0 cm, ellipsoid, with skin and hair on one side, irregular surface, blackish brown, semi-soft consistency, and presence of shear translucent slimy content--for processing and inclusion in paraffin, cut to 5 μm thickness and stained with hematoxylin-eosin coloration. The forwarded tissue was classified as a neoplasm of malignant behavior derived from melanocytes, due to its cellular characteristics: growth pattern, pattern of distribution, severe cellular pleomorphism, anisocytosis, megalocytosis, nuclear pleomorphism, anisokaryosis, megalokaryosis, and involvement of blood vessel walls; additionally, the paraffin block was cut for immunohistochemical processing using monoclonal markers (S-100 DAKO® and Melan A DAKO®), contrasted with Mayer's hematoxylin. Strong immunostaining of neoplastic cells is evident, and it constitutes the first reported case of this disease in Nariño (Colombia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review is to present the physiological background leading to the submission of the gingival melanosis or hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa, which can occur very frequently in our community and the aesthetic involvement that this causes in patients. Similarly all treatment alternatives that can help us address this altered mucosa are shown, highlighting a surgical procedure by mucoabrasion with scalpel blade and rotary devices held in a case showing how easy and effective can be this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neurocutaneousmelanosis (MNC) is an infrequent disease characterized by an excessive proliferation of melanocitic cells. characteristic cutaneous injuries are present at the time of the birth; nevertheless, the neurological manifestations of the disease show an ample variability with respect to the form of expression and in the time of appearance. There are neurological manifestation in minors of 2 years of age in 58% of the cases, and only 8% in patients greater than 20 years of age, a disease has been considered dominant that appears in any sex . Without showing racial predominance. The incidence of giant melanocitic nevus is 1: 20,000 to 50,000 born alive, and only one quarter presents/displays central nervous system involvement . The located in the head, neck and posterior medial line can be associate with craneal and underlying medularleptomeningealmelanosis, which can not generate symptoms or give comunicant or noncomunicant hydrocephalia, focal convulsions, neurological defects, mental retardation and even melanomas. The finding of a giant congenital melanocytic nevus with clinical manifestations of the central nervous system, indicates the investigation of a neurocutaneous syndrome that involves the pigmentariy system. We present the clinical case of a boy diagnosed with neurocutaneous melanosis in evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal melanonychia is defined as a black-brown pigment of the nail caused by non-malignant diseases including activation of melanocytes in the nail matrix, nevi and matrix lentigo, and may indicate an early stage of melanoma of the nail. Although the clinical history is a tool for etiologic diagnosis, histological examination is the gold standard. There are several techniques for biopsy according to the location of the lesion and the clinical suspicion; tangential excision described by Haneke allows the complete removal of a pigmented lesion. We describe the technique and considerations are made about the benefits of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay we present a historical review of efforts to elucidate the histogenesis of intradermal nevus cells and the pathogenesis of intradermal nevi. These contributions embrace from Unna's Abtropfung or dropping off, going through Masson's dual origin (melanocytic and schwannian) as well as Cramer's Hochsteigerung or ascension of the cells, up to Rosai's unifying concept of three atavistic lesions originated from the neural crest, which display a combination of peripheral nerve endings and neuroendocrine cells. Such lesions are: carcinoid tumors from the tip of obliterated appendices, gangliocytic paragangliomas of the ampulla of Vater and cutaneous intradermal nevi. Furthermore, abundant information was brought together, apparently irrelevant and disconnected, which as a whole provide important arguments that contribute to solve the problem. From our review, we drew the following three conclusions (hypotheses?): a) intradermal nevus cells originate, directly or indirectly, from the neural crests and not from the dermo-epidermal melanocytes through the Abtropfung; b) human intradermal nevi may be considered as organoid benign neoplasms of neural lineage, hamartomatous or choristomatous nature and atavistic origin; and c) it is unwarranted to designate intradermal nevi as 'melanocytic nevi', because they are neoplasias which are neither originated from nor composed by melanocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four types of migration of epidermal dendritic melanocytes, which give origin to melanocytic colonization, are reviewed herein. They take place in: intraepidermal nevi and melanomas, intradermal nevi, pigmented lesions and tumors composed of basaloid cells, as well as in primary and metastatic breast carcinomas. A case of a ductal infiltrating carcinoma appearing as a pigmented lesion of the areola and nipple, which was misinterpreted as a melanoma, is presented. Migration and colonization of cutaneous dendritic melanocytes to the carcinoma was found to be the cause, which was demonstrated with various histopathological techniques. A revision was made of the mechanisms that support a symbiotic relationship or biologic balance between dendritic melanocytes, basal or basaloid keratinocytes and epithelial cells of breast carcinoma. It has been determined that the last two can secrete chemotactic, melanogenic and/or proliferative factors, capable of promoting the migration of melanocytes. From these, the most important is, or seems to be, the anti-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Migration and colonization of dendritic melanocytes to breast carcinoma, keeping their normal characteristics, contends against the widely accepted histogenesis of intradermal nevi's superficial cells (A and B), which presupposes a radical transformation, structural as well as functional, of melanocytes into intradermal nevus cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is an adquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology clinically characterized by a variable distribution pattern of achromic macules that are due to the absence of functional melanocytes in the epidermis. There are multiple therapeutic options and the goal is to achieve the best clinical outcome with the least adverse effects. Nowadays, evidence points out that narrow band UVB phototherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with moderate to severe vitiligo. In this review we will discuss the different treatment options in vitiligo based in the best evidence with special attention on phototherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is defined as an acquired, chronic, pigmentary disorder characterized by white macules that usually increase in size over time. These correspond to an epidermal melanocyte loss of function, and in some cases, to those in the hair follicle. The worldwide prevalence is of 0.5 to 2%, affecting all races and men and women equally. Multiple theories that try to explain the pathogenesis of the disease have been proposed, among them, biochemical, neural and autoimmune hypothesis, the latter being the most popular. The different theories may converge to contribute to melanocyte loss, supporting a multifactorial etiology referred to as the convergence theory. The diagnosis is clinical and may be aided by the use of Wood's lamp. We have a great quantity of treatments available that bear advantages and disadvantages, but none with 100% effectiveness in all patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To analyze the dermatoscope characteristics of the palm-plantar pigmented lesions in patients of the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Central Militar and compare with those reported in the literature. Material and methods. We reviewed patients who came in with a pigmented lesion in acral areas. The patients were older than 18 years, military, insured and civilians who agree to participate in the study. No injuries in nails were included. The lesions were reviewed with manual dermatoscopes Derm Lite type. Results. The results were analyzed with the statistical analysis method χ2. The pattern most frequently found was the parallel of the crest, followed by the atypical and the fibrillar, this one not related to areas of pressure. The main diagnoses were simple lentigo and melanocytic nevus acquired. Conclusion. In general, the characteristics of the patients in our study are similar to those reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is the result of the malignant transformation of normal melanocytes of the skin, which are responsible for the synthesis of melamine. It occupies the third place in frequency of skin cancer. Its incidence shows an annual increment of 3 to 7 % which varies in different populations. In our country the mortality is higher than the incidence due to the delayed diagnosis. We are reporting a case of a patient with fair skin who developed blue metastases which were indistinguishable from the characteristic pattern of blue nevi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary malignant melanoma of the skin is a neoplasia originating in melanocytes, which is more common in women affecting, mainly, lower limbs. The aim of our work is to describe the clinical-pathological characteristics of this neoplasia in patients of Hernan Henriquez Aravena Hospital in Temuco from 1995 to 2008. The sex variable was considered in order to identify the variations in both groups. A retrospective study was performed, where medical records and anatomy-pathological reports of 170 patients carrying malignant melanoma, were reviewed. The ratio man: woman was 1.1:1. The variables, such as, itching, pain, bleeding, diameter, shape, edges, pigmentation, ulceration, uprising (upheaval) and thickness according to Breslow, were not significantly associated with sex. A significant association between sex and site (p=0.001), as well as sex and diameter of the lesion (p= 0.0031) was found. The more frequent Clark level in women was IV, with 42%, this was followed by level I or melanoma in situ; level IV was more common in men, with 33%, this was followed by level V (p= 0.041). Considering the national and foreign literature, some differences were found in our research. These differences are mainly seen in sex distribution, in the topographic distribution of the lesions, in some clinical-pathological variables of significant diagnosis and in the state of the lesions at diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the case of a girl of 2 months of age with achromic macules in face, trunk and extremities and white forelock frontal from the birth that corresponds to Piebaldism. Piebaldism is a skin disease autosomal dominant clinically characterized by white forelock and patches of depigmentation due to congenital absence of melanocytes in affected areas by mutations of the KIT proto-oncogene, which affects the differentiation and migration of melanoblastos. It course is permanent and static, that is, new lesions don't appear and occasionally arise islands of hyperpigmentation within the leukodermal patches. Although patients with piebaldism are generally otherwise healthy, this disease may be socially disabling and the treatment constitutes a true challenge sometimes with little satisfactory results being the new surgical techniques (with micrografts of autólogos melanocytes cultivated) seem to be more promising in repigmenting localized piebald lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical Spitz tumors are melanocyte proliferations with histological features overlapped with those of the Spitz nevus and sptizoid melanomas. Its behavior is uncertain and it often develops in children. We present a case of a 9 years old child with an atypical Spitz tumor to discuss the disease approach in child population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]