title: [Management of head and neck giant congenital nevi with skin expansion].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Giant congenital pigmented nevi are benign melanocytic tumors. The lesion transformation to a malignant melanoma is a rare but severe condition. Treatment is complex and often difficult. The purpose of this study was to analyze the results and discuss the contribution of expansion technique in the treatment of giant nevi of the cephalic extremity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six giant nevi (five children and one adult) were treated by skin expansion between 1993 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nevus had a fronto-temporal region and vertex location (one case), and hemifacial in five cases. Subtotal resection of the nevus was performed in every case. The defect was filled by a double rotation flap of expanded scalp (one case), and an expanded total skin graft (five cases). Two complications were observed: a depression of the frontal bone in a 6-year-old child who had received a total prosthesis volume of 2000 mL; and migration of the valve under a prosthesis, which required repositioning. These complications did not alter the final results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of evolution to a malignant melanoma is considerably decreased after exeresis of congenital nevi. Tissue expansion is a true skin bank. It allows treating giant congenital nevi of the scalp and face, with good esthetic results and less morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Plastique Reconstructrice et Esthétique, Chirurgie de la main et Brûlologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Treichville, 01 BP V 3 Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire. allahkchristophe@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Allah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yéo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kossoko
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Assi Djè Bi Djè
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richard Kadio
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D047368:Tumor Burden; D055815:Young Adult