Oncocytic Metaplasia in Melanocytic Tumors

Oncocytic metaplasia represents a histopathologic feature that can be observed in normal tissue such as salivary and lacrimal glands but may also constitute a degenerative metaplastic process as a result of repeated oxidative damage during cellular aging. Although cutaneous oncocytic metaplasia has been considered rare, the finding was seen in over one-third of melanocytic nevi prospectively evaluated, in one study. This case series reports on a small series of oncocytic melanocytic tumors, with the aim of describing this phenomenon in varied contexts and also describing the use of a mitochondrial antigen immunostain, which has not been previously reported.