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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Three-dimensional Imaging and Analysis of Mitochondria within Human Intraepidermal Nerve Fibers
Published on: September 29, 2017
Intradermal nevi with atypical nuclei in the elderly: The senescent nevus
Alan S Boyd1, Sheau-Chiann Chen2, Yu Shyr2
1Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Background:
Benign melanocytic nevi removed from elderly patients may demonstrate focal areas with nuclear atypia.
Objective:
We sought to determine the prevalence of these nevi and their clinical and histologic features.
Methods:
Intradermal nevi from patients older than 60 years were evaluated for areas of focal nuclear atypia and analyzed for 9 histologic characteristics. The patients' sex, biopsy sites, and clinical diagnoses were also tabulated. A statistical analysis of the 2 groups was undertaken.
Results:
In all, 197 specimens from 157 patients were found. Twenty exhibited nuclear atypia (senescent nevi) and 177 did not (benign nevi). Significant differences were found for suggested clinical diagnosis, epithelioid-appearing melanocytes, the number of mast cells, evidence of solar elastosis, the number of intranuclear pseudoinclusions, and the presence of abnormally staining connective tissue.
Limitations:
This is a single-site, retrospective analysis involving a modest number of specimens. In addition, only a single age group was evaluated and only intradermal nevi were examined.
Conclusions:
The presence of focal nuclear atypia in benign melanocytic nevi in the elderly is not a rare finding. As these features are likely a result of the age of the lesion and possibly of long-standing ultraviolet light exposure, the term "senescent" nevus is suggested.
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