Nevus Anemicus Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Loretta Davis, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 19, 2012
 

History

Patients with nevus anemicus typically present with an asymptomatic pale macule or patch that has been present since birth and grows with the child. Frequently, the lesion of nevus anemicus is noted as an incidental finding on skin examination.

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Physical

Clinically, nevus anemicus is a circumscribed, rounded, oval or linear pale macule or patch with irregular margins that may be surrounded by satellite macules. Lesions may be single or multiple and may be located on any part of the body, but most lesions commonly are found on the upper chest. Nevi anemicus occur more frequently in females and are usually asymptomatic. Nevus anemicus is noted at birth or in early childhood, although it may be easily overlooked.

Nevus anemicus usually persists unchanged throughout life. Lesions occur with increased frequency in patients with neurofibromatosis. Areas of nevus anemicus frequently are extensive and have been observed in close association with capillary malformations of port-wine stain type, a phenomenon attributed to somatic recombination. Nevus anemicus also has been described in patients with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis, a syndrome characterized by vascular and melanocytic nevi.[2, 3] Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type IIa has been associated with primary choroidal melanoma.[4]

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Causes

Nevus anemicus is due to a congenital anomaly of the cutaneous vasculature resulting in hypersensitivity to catecholamines, leading to localized vasoconstriction.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Loretta Davis, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Medical College of Georgia

Loretta Davis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Carrie L Kovarik, MD  Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Carrie L Kovarik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J Miller, MD  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Pennsylvania State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Theresa G. Knoepp, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

References

  1. Greaves MW, Birkett D, Johnson C. Nevus anemicus: a unique catecholamine-dependent nevus. Arch Dermatol. Aug 1970;102(2):172-6. [Medline].

  2. [Guideline] Ahkami RN, Schwartz RA. Nevus anemicus. Dermatology. 1999;198(4):327-9. [Medline].

  3. Castori M, Rinaldi R, Angelo C, Zambruno G, Grammatico P, Happle R. Phacomatosis cesioflammea with unilateral lipohypoplasia. Am J Med Genet A. Feb 15 2008;146A(4):492-5. [Medline].

  4. Tran HV, Zografos L. Primary choroidal melanoma in phakomatosis pigmentovascularis IIa. Ophthalmology. Jul 2005;112(7):1232-5. [Medline].

  5. Alagheband M, Engineer L. Nevus anemicus. Skin and Aging. 1998;11:60.

  6. Mountcastle EA, Diestelmeier MR, Lupton GP. Nevus anemicus. J Am Acad Dermatol. Apr 1986;14(4):628-32. [Medline].

  7. Requena L, Sangueza OP. Cutaneous vascular anomalies. Part I. Hamartomas, malformations, and dilation of preexisting vessels. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct 1997;37(4):523-49; quiz 549-52. [Medline].

 
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Ill-defined, asymptomatic hypopigmented patch of nevus anemicus on the lateral leg.
 
 
 
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