Transepidermal elimination of nevus cells. A possible mechanism of nevus involution.

Nevus cell nests were seen histologically within the upper levels of the epidermis in biopsy specimens obtained from three patients with clinically banal-appearing nevi. Although the presence of melanocytes arranged as solitary units or grouped in nests in the upper layers of the epidermis is one histopathologic feature of malignant melanoma, we believe this finding represents transepidermal elimination of nevus cells and may be one mechanism of nevus involution.