[Clinical course and genetics of congenital pigmented nevus]

Based on our own sample of twenty patients, we attempted to make a contribution, from the genetic point of view, to the still controversial issue regarding a nosological entity of congenital pigmented nevi of varying size. In two of the nine patients suffering from "giant nevi" familial traits could be observed. The same was true for the sample of eleven patients suffering from middle-sized congenital pigmented nevi. Within the affected families the clinical manifestation as well as size and localization of the nevi varied from one individual to another. After reference to the relevant literature, we propose that congenital pigmented nevi ought to be seen as a formal genetic entity in spite of the variability in their clinical manifestations.