CUTANEOUS MELANOCYTES IN QUEENSLAND PATIENTS

Summary A study of cutaneous melanocytes and dermal changes around non‐melanoma lesions and malignant melanomas in Queensland patients has been undertaken. The findings from the non‐melanoma group are reported in this paper. The aim of the study was to see if a melanoma affected the melanocytes in the surrounding epidermis. To do this, a base‐line for changes in the melanocytes in Queensland patients with non‐melanoma tumours was sought. The features studied were number, morphology and activity of melanocytes, epidermal pigmentation and solar‐induced dermal changes.