[Congenital pigmented nevus: prognosis and therapeutic possibilities]

Congenital pigmented nevi are found in approximately 1% of newborn infants. Two main factors determine their management: 1) the risk of malignancy (melanoma); 2) the aesthetic consequences, these factors being themselves dependent upon the size and the localization of the nevi. Thus, if the systematic resection of small nevi is not required, early treatment of giant nevi which carry a high risk of malignancy before the age of ten years, is highly recommended. Main methods of treatment are surgical resection (with the help of skin grafts, or cutaneous expansion or mobilization, in giant nevi), dermabrasion and curettage.