Nevus spilus: Is the presence of hair associated with an increased risk for melanoma?

Robert Milton Gathings, Raveena Reddy, Ashish Bhatia, Robert T. Brodell*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nevus spilus (NS), also known as speckled lentiginous nevus, is characterized by background café au lait-like lentiginous melanocytic hyperplasia speckled with small, 1-to 3-mm, darker foci. Nevus spilus occurs in 1.3% to 2.3% of the adult population worldwide. Reports of melanoma arising within hypertrichotic NS suggest that hypertrichosis may be a marker for the development of melanoma. We present a case of a hypertrichotic NS without melanoma and also provide a review of previously reported cases of hypertrichosis in NS. We believe that NS has a lower risk for malignant degeneration than congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) of the same size, and it is unlikely that hypertrichosis is a marker for melanoma in NS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)171-174
Number of pages4
JournalCutis
Volume98
Issue number3
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology

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