“Puffy shirt appearance”: Cell crowding at low magnification may represent nevoid melanoma

Background Melanoma, particularly nevoid melanoma, can masquerade as benign. Helpful differentiating features include nuclear pleomorphism, atypia, prominent nucleoli, absent maturation, and increased mitotic figures. These can be subtle and easily missed unless carefully sought. Thus, the “puffy sh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cutaneous pathology 2019-11, Vol.46 (11), p.805-809
Main Authors: Moyer, Amanda B., Diwan, A. Hafeez
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Benign
Diagnosis, Differential
diagnostic pitfall
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Melanocytes
Melanocytes - metabolism
Melanocytes - pathology
Melanoma
Melanoma - diagnosis
Melanoma - metabolism
Melanoma - pathology
Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
nevoid melanoma
Nevus
Nucleoli
Pleomorphism
puffy shirt
Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis
Skin Neoplasms - metabolism
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
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Summary:Background Melanoma, particularly nevoid melanoma, can masquerade as benign. Helpful differentiating features include nuclear pleomorphism, atypia, prominent nucleoli, absent maturation, and increased mitotic figures. These can be subtle and easily missed unless carefully sought. Thus, the “puffy shirt appearance” concept was born from a Seinfeld episode in which the namesake character unintentionally agreed to wear a pirate‐like puffy shirt. Consequently, he found himself out of place, sporting an outfit with “too much shirt in too little space”. Similarly, at low‐power, nevoid melanoma appears to have “too many cells in too little space”. This is more pronounced and easier to appreciate when there is an associated nevus, where crowded, subtly malignant melanocytes stand out from the evenly distributed, more spaced out benign melanocytes. Methods Twelve practicing dermatopathologists familiar with the puffy shirt concept in the context of melanoma were surveyed. Results Hundred percent of participants found it most helpful as a triaging tool, prompting additional work up including higher magnification evaluation, additional levels, consultation, and/or immunohistochemistry. Conclusions The crowded cells in the “puffy shirt appearance” catch the eye and should provoke a more thorough inspection of the lesion. This sign is not pathognomonic for melanoma, but prompts more careful evaluation and helps prevent misdiagnosis.
ISSN:0303-6987
1600-0560
DOI:10.1111/cup.13531