Dermatomic areas and the genesis of melanomas
Iyengar, B.
Indian Journal of Cancer 13(4): 330-332
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-509X PMID: 1022679 Document Number: 100326
The exact location of 65 human malignant melanomas, was mapped out in relation to dermatomic areas. The incidence of malignant melanomas in relation to the length of the dermatome was calculated. There is a close correlationship between the number of melanomas and the length of the cutaneous nerves. This is due to a reciprocal inductive activity between the epidermal dendritic melanocytes and the underlying Schwann cells. The farther the cells are from the neural crest the more unstable they are so that they are easily acted on by external carcinogenic agents.