Congenital Melanocytic Nevus
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A congenital pigmented or melanocytic nevus is a dark-colored, often hairy, patch of skin. It is usually present at birth or appears in the first year of life. It is smaller in infants and children, but it usually continues to grow as the child grows. A giant pigmented nevus is larger than 20 cm once it stops growing.
You should have all birthmarks looked at by a health care provider. If the lesion looks suspicious, a biopsy may be needed to check for cancer cells.
An MRI of the brain might be done if a giant congenital nevus is located in the head and neck region or over the spine. Those may be associated with Neurocutaneous Melanosis.
What is Congenital Nevus?
Pigmented Congenital Nevus is a skin condition that either appears at birth or forms within the first year of a child’s life. The nevus is characterized by a patch of skin that is dark-colored and often hairy. Congenital nevi are classified in three groups based on size:
- Small – Diameter of nevus is less than 2 cm
- Medium – Diameter of nevus is between 2 cm and 20 cm
- Giant – Diameter of nevus is greater than 20 cm, or there is a cluster of small and medium-sized nevi
Pigmented Congenital Nevi are typically found on the abdomen or back but also frequently appear on the upper thigh, arms, or palms of the hand. Very rarely, nevi can develop on the head, neck, and mouth area.
What Causes Congenital Nevus?
Congenital Nevi are caused by cell mutations during development of the embryo in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is believed that the nevus is formed when the melanin-producing cells (melanocytes) don’t spread evenly and cluster in a certain area. There is no way to prevent a nevus from forming.
Congenital Nevus Treatment: Melanocytic Nevus Surgery and Other Medical Procedures
The necessity for removal of a congenital nevus and the medical procedure used to remove it tend to vary depending on the location, size, and perceived risk of the condition. Treatment can range from observation to simple excision to excision and complex reconstruction surgery.
Small- and medium-sized nevi are generally harmless but can be removed for aesthetic reasons. Removal of a small nevus consists of a simple excision, cutting out the affected area and stitching the surrounding skin back together.
Removing a large nevus is a much more daunting process. Depending on the magnitude of the condition, the nevus is cut out in sections. The skin must be replaced via skin grafting or tissue expansion. Oftentimes, this requires multiple surgical procedures and a complex reconstruction process.
Laser congenital nevus treatment is also an emerging option, but results are inconsistent in terms of success rate and eventual repigmentation.
Learn More
To learn more about pigmented congenital nevus, please contact our Beverly Hills office by calling (310) 255-4476. If you are interested in how congenital nevus treatment can help you, schedule your free Virtual Consultation with Dr. Youssef Tahiri today.