[Congenital giant pigmented hairy nevus--case report]

Authors present the characteristics of a giant congenital pigmented hairy nevus (GCPN) of the skin.

A case of a female patient, 21 years of age, with many changes of the skin, namely: giant congenital pigmented hairy nevi involving the skin of the trunk, the upper and lower extremities and the face is reported. There have not been any changes in regard to the color, size or distribution of the nevi. The family anamnesis is negative. The involvement of the skin is 20% of the total body surface, according to Wallace. Since there was a suspicion of neurocutaneous melanosis, the patient underwent electroencephalography (EEG) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These examinations could not ratify the pathologic changes of the brain structures, which could affirm the neurocutaneous melanosis.

The frequency of occurrence of GCPN larger than 20 cm in diameter in pediatric patients is estimated as 1:4,150 of children with female predominance. Data on possible malignant alteration of GCPN into a malignant melanoma vary from 6-12%. Authors have decided to follow-up the patient and to perform a clinical observation of the nevi, mostly due to extent of the skin changes and signs of malignant alterations.

Authors have presented this case because of the risk of malignant melanoma development in a patient with GCPN and in the aim of pointing to the problem of melanocytic tumor progression.