Clinically unapparent melanocytic nevi on the prepuce
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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Anterior High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia
Published on: August 9, 2024
J Fernando Val-Bernal1, Daniel Val, M Francisca Garijo
1Department of Anatomical Pathology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. apavbj@humv.es
Background:
Melanocytic nevi from the genitalia are uncommon. Nevi on the vulva are much better described than nevi on male genitalia. To our knowledge, a systematic study of preputial melanocytic nevi has not been reported.
Objective:
To investigate the frequency of clinically unapparent melanocytic nevi on a series of preputial excisions.
Materials And Methods:
We undertook a prospective histologic study of the prepuce obtained in a series of 372 consecutive circumcisions for phimosis performed during the period between January 2000 and December 2002.
Results:
Incidental preputial melanocytic nevi were detected in four (1.1%) patients. Lesions were dermal in nature, most of them showed pigment in superficial dermal nests and had pseudovascular spaces. There were no cytologic atypia, mitotic figures, architectural disorder or inflammatory infiltrate. The mean (standard deviation, SD) of the maximum diameter was 1.08 (0.85) mm (range 0.34-1.79 mm). The mean age (SD) of the patients was 41.5 (4.95) years (range 29-58).
Conclusions:
Incidental melanocytic nevi, although uncommonly, can be observed in the prepuce. They are detected in adults and may pose a diagnostic challenge when they are detected in the setting of concurrent malignant melanoma.
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