New insights into oculodermal nevogenesis and proposal for a new iris nevus classification

Abstract

Based on our findings we propose classifying iris nevi into sectoral, incomplete sectoral and solitary subtypes. Additionally, we set up a hypothetic concept of oculodermal nevogenesis suggesting a time-dependent embryogenic alteration affecting the normal melanocyte location, migration and maturation along peripheral nerve sheets. Our new concept explains well the morphology and extension of benign melanocytic proliferations in the ocular region as well as their relation to uveal melanoma.