title: Radical resection of giant congenital melanocytic nevus and reconstruction with meek-graft covered integra dermal template.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Giant congenital melanocytic nevi represent a surgical challenge, particularly in cases in which the size of the nevus exceeds certain extend and malignant transformations have to be considered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To discuss through case report considerable surgical options when extensive giant congenital melanocytic nevi with malignant transformation are encountered.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present an unusual case of a giant congenital melanocytic nevi of the entire back of a 44-year-old patient. To achieve radical resection with direct appropriate wound closure and acceptable outcome, the integument of the entire back was excised and covered with Integra, followed by split-thickness skin grafting after stable integration of the matrix.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The approach resulted in a complete excision of the tumor and acceptable cosmetic and excellent biomechanical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduced practice demonstrates a useful alternative to established methods, particularly if tumor excision in large areas and subsequent wound closure might be achieved in one procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery, Burn Center, Aachen, Germany. juergen.kopp@chir.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magnus Noah
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rübben
authors.forename: Hans F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Merk
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pallua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001365:Axilla; D001415:Back; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017768:Skin, Artificial
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C114835:integra artificial skin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen