ERUPTIVE SPECKLED MELANOCYTIC NEVI FOLLOWING DRUG-INDUCED TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS

We report a case of eruptive speckled melanocytic naevi that developed after allopurinol-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis. Lesions were pr esent both on sun-exposed and covered skin. They were studied by using histology, immunohistochemistry (with the antibodies HMB45 and NKi C3 ), flow cytometry and nuclear morphometry. As a control, we retrieved from our files reports on junctional, recurrent and dysplastic naevi a nd malignant melanomas. Cells of eruptive melanocytic naevi were label led in an homogenous pattern with the HMB45 antibody. Flow cytometry s howed a diploid pattern of DNA content. Nuclear size was similar to th at of junctional naevi while it was significantly smaller than in recu rrent and dysplastic naevi and malignant melanomas. The present erupti ve speckled melanocytic naevi have benign characters. The concern for malignant transformation seems linked only to the large number of naev i.