title: Clinically unapparent melanocytic nevi on the prepuce.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanocytic nevi from the genitalia are uncommon. Nevi on the vulva are much better described than nevi on male genitalia. To our knowledge, a systematic study of preputial melanocytic nevi has not been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the frequency of clinically unapparent melanocytic nevi on a series of preputial excisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a prospective histologic study of the prepuce obtained in a series of 372 consecutive circumcisions for phimosis performed during the period between January 2000 and December 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidental preputial melanocytic nevi were detected in four (1.1%) patients. Lesions were dermal in nature, most of them showed pigment in superficial dermal nests and had pseudovascular spaces. There were no cytologic atypia, mitotic figures, architectural disorder or inflammatory infiltrate. The mean (standard deviation, SD) of the maximum diameter was 1.08 (0.85) mm (range 0.34-1.79 mm). The mean age (SD) of the patients was 41.5 (4.95) years (range 29-58).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidental melanocytic nevi, although uncommonly, can be observed in the prepuce. They are detected in adults and may pose a diagnostic challenge when they are detected in the setting of concurrent malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. apavbj@humv.es
authors.forename: J Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Val-Bernal
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Val
authors.forename: M Francisca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Garijo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052816:Foreskin / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*