Multinucleate epidermal cells in non-neoplastic dermatoses

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Multinucleate epidermal cells (MEC) originated from human keratinocytes were observed histologically in 92 of 197 cases of non-neoplastic dermatoses, such as lupus erythematosus (26 of 70), lichenoid eruptions (26 of 47), Hailey-Hailey disease (5 of 5), psoriasis vulgaris (20 of 49) and so on. Most of these cells had 2 nuclei, and a few had 3 nuclei. MEC usually showed perinuclear bands of eosinophilic material which also showed positive staining for epidermal fibers (tonofilaments). In all cases of Hailey-Hailey disease, close correlation between formation of MEC and dyskeratotic tendency was observed. The mechanism of formation of MEC in these dermatoses may be similar to that of Bowen''s disease, in which dyskeratotic tonofilaments become entangled with the spindles of the mitotic apparatus so that normal cell division cannot take place. MEC may be a manifestation not only of malignant dyskeratosis but also of benign one.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: