Is congenital melanocytic nevus cancerous?

Published by Anaya Cole on

Is congenital melanocytic nevus cancerous?

Most congenital nevi usually do not cause health problems, but a small percentage may develop into skin cancer (melanoma) later in life. The risk of melanoma increases with the size of the nevus.

Should melanocytic nevus be removed?

to the editor: In the article on newborn skin, the authors recommend removal of large and giant congenital melanocytic nevi as the current management strategy. In fact, complete nevus removal is impossible for many large nevi and virtually all giant nevi.

How rare is congenital melanocytic nevus?

Frequency. Giant congenital melanocytic nevus occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000 newborns worldwide.

How is congenital melanocytic nevus treated?

The current treatment of choice for CMN is surgical excision. However, some CMN occur in cosmetically sensitive areas, where a surgical scar is less acceptable, or in inoperable locations. For these reasons, there has been increasing interest in the potential for laser treatment of CMN.

Does congenital melanocytic nevus go away?

Congenital melanocytic nevi do not go away with time. Some congenital melanocytic nevi may get lighter in color over the first few years of life.

Can melanocytic nevus be cured?

Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevi Successfully Treated with Combined Laser Therapy – PMC. The . gov means it’s official.

Can melanocytic nevus be removed?

Small and medium size nevi (up to 5 cm in diameter) can be removed in a one-stage procedure with suturing of the wound, local plasty or free-tissue skin graft. Blepharal and central facial lesions are best reconstructed with full-tissue skin grafting.

What does a melanocytic nevus look like?

They typically appear as small brown, tan, or pink spots. You can be born with moles or develop them later. Moles that you’re born with are known as congenital moles. However, most moles develop during childhood and adolescence.

Can congenital melanocytic nevus be removed?

Is Removal Possible? Small nevi can be removed by simple surgical excision. The nevus is cut out, and the adjacent skin stitched together leaving a small scar. Removal of a large congenital nevus, however, requires replacement of the affected skin.

Can a 1mm mole be cancerous?

Melanoma stages are described as: Stage 0 – the melanoma is on the surface of the skin. Stage 1A – the melanoma is less than 1mm thick. Stage 1B – the melanoma is 1mm to 2mm thick, or less than 1mm thick and the surface of the skin is broken (ulcerated) or its cells are dividing faster than usual.

Can melanoma be very small?

Melanoma with irregular shape and colour Below is a very small melanoma. It is only about 4 or 5 millimetres across. But you can see clearly that it is not the same colour throughout. It also has an irregular shape.

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