Large Congenital Melanocytic Nevus on the Breast Sparing the Nipple and Areola.
BACKGROUND
Divided nevus is a rare entity that has been described for a special appearance of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMNs) occurring on the eyelid and penis. It is presumed that the formation of divided nevi is related with the embryologic development of the eyelid and penis, thus giving a hint about the occurrence time of CMN in utero. This article focuses on a formerly undescribed observation of another special clinical appearance of CMN discussing possible relation with embryogenesis.


METHODS
The data including photographic documentations of a total number of 86 patients with large CMN seen in a single center were reviewed according to the involvement of the nipple and areola by the main mass of the nevus and associated satellite lesions.


RESULTS
Eight patients presented with CMNs involving one (n=6) or both (n=2) breast region. In all of them, CMN surrounded the nipple-areola complex without involving these structures. Furthermore, satellite nevi have not been observed on the nipple and areola in any of the 86 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We presume that different developmental time periods of the breast and the nipple-areola complex and the occurrence of the melanocytic lesion before the embryologic development of nipple-areola complex could explain our observation of CMN sparing the nipple-areola complex. The term "nipple-sparing nevus of the breast" is suggested for this special clinical appearance of CMN.
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Can
C
Baykal
Department of Histology and Embryology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Seyhun
S
Solakoğlu
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Algün
A
Polat Ekinci
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Kurtuluş Didem
KD
Yazganoğlu
D000293:Adolescent; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000151:congenital*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital*; D055815:Young Adult