eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Pediatric Diseases

Congenital Nevi: Follow-up

Author: Christopher J Steen, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Jerry Rothenberg, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School; President, Director, New Jersey Dermatopathology Laboratory, Inc; Isabelle Thomas, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School; Chief of Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center of East Orange; Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 24, 2009

Follow-up

Complications

  • Patients with giant congenital melanocytic nevi have an increased risk of developing melanoma (as high as 5-7% by age 60 y). The lifetime risk of malignant transformation associated with smaller nevi is surely smaller than that for giant nevi but is unknown at this time.

Prognosis

  • The prognosis for patients with small or medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevi is good. Although the risk of developing melanoma in these lesions has not been quantified, it is generally regarded as only slightly higher than that of normal skin. Despite the increased risk for melanoma in patients with giant congenital melanocytic nevi, the vast majority of patients never develop melanoma. Therefore, prognosis remains good in these patients, especially if the lesions are examined regularly for signs of atypia.
  • Prognosis in cases of symptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis is quite poor.

Patient Education

  • All people need to be educated on the importance of protection from ultraviolet light exposure. This is especially important in people who have congenital melanocytic nevi, particularly the giant type, because they are already at an increased risk for the development of melanoma.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Skin, Hair, and Nails Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Skin Cancer and Mole Removal.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to detect neurocutaneous melanosis in patients with giant congenital melanocytic nevi or multiple smaller congenital nevi
  • Failure to diagnose malignancy in congenital melanocytic nevi
  • Misdiagnosis of other lesions as a congenital melanocytic nevus
 


More on Congenital Nevi

Overview: Congenital Nevi
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Congenital Nevi
Treatment & Medication: Congenital Nevi
Follow-up: Congenital Nevi
Multimedia: Congenital Nevi
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

congenital nevi, congenital melanocytic nevi, congenital nevus, nevocellular nevi, nevocellular nevus, garment nevus, garment nevi, giant hairy nevus, giant hairy nevi, bathing-trunk nevus, bathing trunk nevus, bathing trunk nevi, bathing-trunk nevi, giant pigmented nevus, nevus pigmentosus et pilosus, giant pigmented nevi, neurocutaneous melanosis, melanoma, melanoma risk factors, skin cancer

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Christopher J Steen, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School
Christopher J Steen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jerry Rothenberg, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School; President, Director, New Jersey Dermatopathology Laboratory, Inc
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Isabelle Thomas, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School; Chief of Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center of East Orange
Isabelle Thomas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Franklin Flowers, MD, Chief, Division of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Medicine and Otolaryngology, University of Florida College of Medicine
Franklin Flowers, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

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
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.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey Meffert, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio
Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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