The presence of melanocytes in the nasal cavity

F. G. Zak, W. Lawson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

Melanocytes are present in the respiratory mucosa, mucous glands and superficial and deep stroma of the nasal cavity. These cells are present in the stroma of most Caucasian and all Negro adults. Intraepithelial melanocytes occur focally and are observed only in adult Negroes. No melanocytes are found in young Negro children. The presence of melanocytes within mucous glands termed melanogenic metaplasia is not limited to the oral cavity and larynx but was also noted in this study in the nasal cavity. The occurrence of melanocytes in the nasal cavity explains the histogenesis of melanomas as primary neoplasms without an antecedent squamous metaplasia or the previous formation of nevus cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)515-519
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
Volume83
Issue number4 I
DOIs
StatePublished - 1974

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