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[Neonatal melanoma arising in a giant congenital nevus]
F Benoit-Durafour1, J L Michel, W Godard
1Service de Dermatologie, Pr F. Cambazard, Hôpital Nord, Faculté de Médecine Jacques Lisfranc, CHU de St-Etienne, 42055 Saint-Etienne Cedex 02.
Introduction:
Malignant melanoma arising in giant congenital nevus is a well known but rare event.
Case Report:
A 15 day-old boy with giant congenital nevus all over the left leg was seen for a 6 mm red and bleeding nodule inside the nevus on the inner thigh. Histopathology showed spindle cell malignant melanoma. A 3 cm edge surgical excision was performed with a favorable outcome which persists 5 years later.
Discussion:
The diagnosis of malignant melanoma is always very difficult in a child, unless metastasis occurs. Histopathologic modifications of childhood malignant melanomas are discussed. Development of malignant melanoma in giant congenital nevus would not appear to exceed 5 p. 100. Nevertheless, early surgical excision is recommended because the nevus is smaller and skin mobilization is easier at this age.