Epidermal nevi are congenital cutaneous hamartomas caused by embryonic somatic mutations. Ultrastructural features of adult epidermal nevi have rarely been investigated. Herein, we report a case involving a Japanese adult who had epidermal nevi with right congenital blindness and a right accessory nipple. The histopathologic and ultrastructural studies showed divergent abnormal epidermal structures in both melanocytes and keratinocytes. Our case indicates the need to further investigate histopathologic, ultrastructural, and genetic associations in adult epidermal nevi.
Keywords: cutaneous hamartoma; electron microscopy; epidermal nevus; keratinocytes; melanocytes.
© 2015 Japanese Dermatological Association.