title: Becker's nevus: an androgen-mediated hyperplasia with increased androgen receptors.
abstract: Becker's nevus is an uncommon, unilateral, hyperpigmented, hairy cutaneous hamartoma which usually begins in adolescence. Its clinical features and its occurrence mainly in male individuals suggest that androgen stimulation may play a role in its pathogenesis. Androgen receptor assays were performed in a 16-year-old patient with a Becker's nevus. The patient coincidentally had acanthosis nigricans. Lesional tissue showed an androgen receptor level of 634.1 fm/mg protein. A specimen from the contralateral left pectoral area showed no dectectable androgen receptor activity (less than 2.0 fm/mg protein). These results suggest that exquisite androgen sensitivity and stimulation may explain the clinical manifestations of Becker's nevus.
mesh_terms: D000052:Acanthosis Nigricans / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D003600:Cytosol / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000032:analysis* / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011987:Receptors, Steroid