MULTIPLE PIGMENTED NEVI

Abstract
Masson's1theory that many if not all of the cellular and pigmented nevi have their origin in the peripheral neuroglia or Schwann cells has been receiving increasingly wide acceptance in recent years.2In his original paper on the subject Masson1reaffirmed Soldan's dictum that pigmented nevi were neuromas of the epidermal and dermal portions of the tactile nerves. An illustration accompanying that paper showed a phenomenon common to both Masson's and Unna's theories of the histogenesis of these lesions, that is, the process Unna3had previously designated asAbtropfung, which consisted of the extrusion from the epidermis into the corium of spheroidal nests of large cells with pale-staining cytoplasm. Unna called these altered basal cells; Masson expressed the belief that they were altered cells of the sheath of Schwann. In their earlier stages of differentiation Masson designated themcellules claires, and he and others2have

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