Nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn: the head and neck manifestations

The nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn (SNJ) is a congenitally-occurring, hamartomatous disorder of the skin and its adnexa of infrequent occurrence. This presentation of five cases emphasizes the smooth, waxy, yellow-brown lesion's progression into a thickened sebaceous tumor of premalignant predilection. The incidence of neoplastic degeneration of these hamartomatous nevi may be as high as 30% with the capacity of metastasis occasionally reported. Because of malignancy risks as well as cosmetic considerations, early surgical removal is recommended. Previously unreported problems of dysphagia and malnutrition secondary to pulsion diverticulum at the esophageal inlet and cleft palate, obliterative aural stenosis with associated conductive hearing loss are documented. Regardless of SNJ's occurrence as either an isolated lesion or as the fully developed syndrome, including mental retardation and epilepsy, this congenital malformation of the skin, its hair, and sebaceous glands presents rare and histologically intriguing problems for the practitioner.