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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

The Three-Dimensional Human Skin Reconstruct Model: a Tool to Study Normal Skin and Melanoma Progression
Published on: August 3, 2011
Giant congenital melanocytic nevus with underlying hypoplasia of the subcutaneous fat
S A Caradona1, R Skidmore, A Gupta
1Department of Dermatology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA.
Abstract:
A 17-week-old boy with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN) of the left lower extremity was noted to have a reduction in circumference of the left lower extremity relative to the contralateral side. The skin overlying the GCMN was persistently warm when compared with the surrounding and contralateral skin. Comparative plain radiography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed fat hypoplasia of the left lower extremity, with bone and muscle appearing unaffected. The possible role of cytokines produced by the nevus in fat hypoplasia in GCMN is discussed.
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