title: Dysplastic nevi, melanoma and pregnancy- where is the relationship?
abstract: Dysplastic nevus is a precursor and a risk factor for the development of malignant melanoma, which explains the scientific interest in this field. Its etiology includes various of endogenous and exogenous factors, as we are considering the influence of hormonal status on the possible malignancy of congenital nevi in particular. The occurrence of some typical melanocytic lesions such as chloasma during pregnancy, where the hormone effect is demonstrated, as well as the more frequent changes of the dysplastic nevi namely within the pregnancy, leads to the idea for the endocrine dependence of the malignant transformation of some melanocytic lesions. We present a case of 37-year-old female patient whom consulted with the dermatologist due to occurrence of pigmented lesions on her left breast. The lesion changed significantly during both her pregnancies with a pause in growth between them and without any signs of regression after the births. During pregnancy, all pigmented skin lesions should be observed with caution because of the increased risk of malignant transformation. Lesions with any suspected changes are required to be immediately removed surgically with appropriate anaesthesia, without waiting to give birth.
authors.affiliation: Onkoderma-Policlinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatologic Surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trayanova
authors.affiliation: Onkoderma-Policlinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatologic Surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chokoeva
authors.affiliation: Onkoderma-Policlinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatologic Surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tchernev
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia Health System, Department of Pathology, Charlottesville, VA USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chair of Dermatology, University of Rome "G. Marconi", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti