Giant pigment granules in biopsy specimens from cafe au lait spots in neurofibromatosis
Morris, T.J.; Johnson, W.G.; Silvers, D.N.
Archives of Dermatology 118(6): 385-388
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-987X PMID: 6807213 Document Number: 194359
Cafe au lait spots from 8 patients presumed to have neurofibromatosis were evaluated for giant pigment granules (GPG) by light microscopic examination of dopa-incubated epidermal whole-mount specimens and by light microscopic examination of tissue sections. Giant pigment granules were found in 6 of 8 of the dopa-incubated epidermal whole-mount specimens, and in all 8 of the paraffin-embedded specimens sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Routine biopsy preparations can be used to identify GPG. This should facilitate studies of the incidence and significance of GPG in cafe au lait spots.