The aggregates of thin fascicles provide a solid, expansile quality,and there is some evidence of distortion of connective tissue at the margin of the nodule on the left. This pattern satisfies the requisites for the recognition of vertical growth with minimal cytologic deviation. In addition, the variations in patterns, when the superficial portion is compared to the deeper portion, might be cited as evidence that the process has evolved in neoplastic sequences, and that the small cells in the deeper portion are older and less advanced neoplastically than the more superficial portion. The nuclear features as seen in this field differ from those of classic Spitz nevus. The chromatin is rather densely distributed in most nuclei.
Some nuclei show central clearing of chromatin with heavily stained nuclear membranes.
Nucleoli are variable. Here, epithelioid cells, in small nests and as individuals, infiltrate the reticular dermis among collagen bundles. The cells have pale cytoplasm and rounded nuclei. There is some variation in nuclear sizes, outlines, degrees of chromatism. The cells resemble those commonly encountered in the vertical growth components of minimal deviation melanoma of halo nevus-like type or dermal type.