title: Dermal melanocytosis: a clinical spectrum.
abstract: While most dermal melanocytoses are congenital or have an onset in early childhood, there is a group which is clearly acquired, with an onset in adult life. While the Mongolian spot typically disappears in childhood, other dermal melanocytoses persist for life. A brief review of the clinical spectrum of the dermal melanocytoses is undertaken and three illustrative cases are described: a case of congenital naevus of Ota, a case of acquired bilateral naevus of Ota-like macules, and an unusual case of a congenital dermal melanocytotic lesion on the left had which began to spread in adulthood. The possibilities regarding the pathogenesis of this intriguing group of disorders are considered.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Centre, Liverpool Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Stanford
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Georgouras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009507:Nevus of Ota / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology