title: Multicentric malignant melanoma in a giant melanocytic congenital nevus 20 years after dermabrasion in adulthood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermabrasion is one approach to the treatment of treating giant melanocytic congenital nevi. Treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of spontaneous malignant transformation of giant nevi into malignant melanomas that usually occur in childhood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development of a multicentric malignant melanoma in a giant melanocytic congenital nevus after dermabrasion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report about a 46-year-old male patient who developed a multicentric malignant melanoma in a giant melanocytic congenital nevus. The nevus was located on his left shoulder extending to his neck and chest. Previously, dermabrasion of the nevus was performed twice at the ages of 26 and 28.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To our knowledge, this is the first report of malignant transformation of a giant nevus into a multicentric malignant melanoma diagnosed 20 years after the procedure of dermabrasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that a close follow-up of such patients is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany. mzutt@web.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zutt
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kretschmer
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emmert
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haenssle
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Bertsch
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012782:Shoulder; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*