1. Brown Dots
Represent
pigment in the
lower epidermis
or epidermal-
dermal junction.

2. Gray dots/ granules
 loose melanin or
fine melanin
particles
(melanin “dust”)
in melanophages
or free in the
dermis

3. Globules
 Represent nests of
melanocytes at the
epidermal-dermal
junction or in the
papillary dermis
Symmetrical, round to oval
structures
Brown, black or red
More than 0.1mm of
diameter

4. Nevus cells
Nevus cells Globular projections

5. Globules

6. Dark Structureless Area
(Blotch)
Represents
large
concentrations
of melanin
localized
throughout the
epidermis,
dermis or both.

7. Pigment in the stratum corneum,
epidermis, and dermis

8. Central dark, structureless area Focal dark, structureless area
Dark structureless areas (blotch)

9.  Radial streaming
 Pseudopods
Streaks

10. Radial Streaming /
streaks
 Linear
extensions of
pigment at the
periphery of a
lesion
 Histologically
represents
confluent
junctional nests
of melanocytes