Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (Hori nevus): etiologic and therapeutic considerations.
BACKGROUND
Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (ABNOM), also known as Hori nevus, is one of the most commonly acquired dermal facial melanocytoses among people with dark skin, especially Asian women.


OBJECTIVE
The goals of this article were to review published work on ABNOM; address controversies about pathogenesis and therapeutic approach; and inspire further study.


METHODS
Articles in the literature related to the description of ABNOM were extracted and summarized.


RESULTS
Clinically, ABNOM occurs predominantly on the face of middle-aged women. Histologically, it is characterized by irregularly shaped, bipolar melanocytes dispersed through the mid to papillary dermis. Therapeutically, various pigment-targeting lasers have emerged as the major mode of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a notable absence of both biological insight into the cause of ABNOM and robust trials to effectively define a standardized therapy. The scattered reports in the literature preclude a more rigorous meta-analytical approach.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there have been many reports on ABNOM since 1984, the pathogenesis still remains unclear and controversial, and treatment of ABNOM is still challenging.
Park
Jong Min
JM
Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Tsao
Hensin
H
Tsao
Sandy
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy