Resolution and recurrence of vitiligo following excision of congenital melanocytic nevus

Vitiligo associated with halo congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) is rare. There are limited reports in the literature, especially with regard to CMN excision. We present the case of a 5-year-old girl who presented with vitiligo of the periorbital and axillary regions and halo formation around CMN of the buttock. The lesion was excised, and all areas of vitiligo improved, but 18 months postoperatively, a halo of depigmentation appeared around the excision scar and later in the periorbital and axillary regions. In review of literature, there is only one report of excision of halo CMN and resultant improvement of vitiligo. Although initial resolution of vitiligo in this case was promising, the recurrence indicates that this complex process is not reliably controlled with excision of the inciting lesion.