[Epiluminescence image of lentiginous junctional nevi]

Occasionally, in patients with pigmented skin lesions referred for epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) the lesions are deep black naevi that even experienced dermatologists suspect might be malignant melanomas. The surface of these lesions is abnormal, often scaly, but their general aspect is regular and not characterized by any gross asymmetry. Inspection by ELM reveals additional features, which, if present in a typical combination, indicate a benign lesion. One simple examination can be enough to exclude malignancy. Histological examination allows the diagnosis of lentiginous junctional naevocytic naevi. Two typical cases are presented.