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GIANT PIGMENTED NAEVUS: THE FREQUENCY OF MALIGNANT CHANGE AND INDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN
Author(s) -
Keipert James A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1985.tb01823.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , melanoma , malignancy , congenital melanocytic nevus , nevus , pediatrics , pathology , cancer research
SUMMARY The chance of malignancy developing in a giant pigmented naevus is often regarded as sufficiently high to justify prophylactic removal of all giant pigmented naevi as soon as possible, but most of the reports from which these figures are derived appear biased because of selection of patients. Because malignant melanoma seemed extremely rare in the Australian prepubertal child, attempts were made to document its frequency. Despite difficulty in obtaining complete figures, sufficient information was obtained to confirm the extreme rarity of malignant melanoma in general and especially arising in a giant pigmented naevus before puberty. It is therefore suggested that there is no general indication for prophylactic removal of giant pigmented naevi in Australian prepubertal children. Indications for removal on cosmetic grounds are discussed. It is speculated whether these conclusions might apply in other countries.