Nevus Cell Inclusions in the Lymph Node: A Report of Two Cases

ABSTRACT

Nevus cell inclusion in the lymph node is an uncommon histologic finding and usually is an incidental finding in the capsule, fibrous trabeculae, perinodal adipose tissue, and parenchyma of the axillary, inguinal, or cervical lymph nodes which are removed as part of cancer diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The aggregated pigmented nevus cells in the lymph node resemble the cells of the cutaneous nevi. It is important to differentiate them from metastatic carcinoma or malignant melanoma. The characteristic features of nevus cell inclusions are presence of nevus cells within the capsule and supporting stroma, without presence in the marginal sinus of the lymph node, and the absence of cytological atypia or mitosis of nevus cells. We report two cases of nevus cell inclusions, in the axillary lymph nodes in a patient with breast carcinoma and in an enlarged inguinal lymph node in a patient without a malignant tumor.