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Divided or kissing nevus of the penis

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 19, Issue 10 (2013)

The divided or kissing nevus is an unusual congenital melanocytic nevus. By definition, these nevi appear on skin that separates during embryological development. These lesions have been reported on the eyelids, fingers, and rarely the penis. We describe an 18 year old uncircumcised male who presented with an asymptomatic darkly pigmented patch on the glans penis. He reported that the lesion had appeared recently and was enlarging. Physical examination revealed a second symmetric lesion on the adjacent foreskin. Punch biopsy of the lesion on the glans penis showed abundant intradermal melanocytes devoid of mitoses and atypia, consistent with an intradermal melanocytic nevus. Based on the benign histologic nature and clinical exam, the lesion was diagnosed as a divided or kissing nevus of the penis. Proposed treatments include excision and grafting as well as Nd:YAG laser therapy. However, these patients may be safely monitored with regular follow-up skin examinations because there is minimal risk of malignant transformation.

Cover page: Divided or kissing nevus of the penis

Creative Commons 'BY-NC-ND' version 4.0 license

Article
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Congenital eccrine nevus on the neck

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 20, Issue 10 (2014)

Eccrine nevus (EN) is a very rare hamartoma of the skin and with varying clinical manifestations. Histologically, these neoplasms present as a proliferation of normally structured eccrine sweat glands in the dermis. There have been no more than 20 cases previously have been reported in the English literature. Herein we report a 25-year-old man with eccrine nevus on the neck. To our best knowledge, this is the first case that the lesion affecting the neck.

Cover page: Congenital eccrine nevus on the neck

Article
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Oral compound nevus

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 20, Issue 2 (2014)

The melanocytic nevus is a benign and focal proliferation of nevus cells that can be congenital or acquired. Intraoral lesions are uncommon, and the etiology and pathogenesis are poorly understood. The occurrence rate of oral compound nevus is about 5.9% to 16.5% of all oral melanocytic nevi. A 22-year-old male patient presented with a dark brown macule on the buccal mucosa of the maxilla in the region of tooth 26. The lesion was elliptical, 0.7 x 0.5 cm, well circumscribed, asymptomatic, and the evolution time was unknown. An excisional biopsy was performed and microscopic analysis revealed nests of nevus cells in the epithelium and underlying connective tissue that were compatible with melanocytic compound nevus. Owing to the clinical similarity between oral melanocytic nevus and oral melanoma, a histopathological analysis is mandatory for definitive diagnosis.

Article
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Topical therapy for regression and melanoma prevention of congenital giant nevi.

UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2022)

Giant congenital melanocytic nevi are NRAS-driven proliferations that may cover up to 80% of the body surface. Their most dangerous consequence is progression to melanoma. This risk often triggers preemptive extensive surgical excisions in childhood, producing severe lifelong challenges. We have presented preclinical models, including multiple genetically engineered mice and xenografted human lesions, which enabled testing locally applied pharmacologic agents to avoid surgery. The murine models permitted the identification of proliferative versus senescent nevus phases and treatments targeting both. These nevi recapitulated the histologic and molecular features of human giant congenital nevi, including the risk of melanoma transformation. Cutaneously delivered MEK, PI3K, and c-KIT inhibitors or proinflammatory squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) achieved major regressions. SADBE triggered innate immunity that ablated detectable nevocytes, fully prevented melanoma, and regressed human giant nevus xenografts. These findings reveal nevus mechanistic vulnerabilities and suggest opportunities for topical interventions that may alter the therapeutic options for children with congenital giant nevi.

Cover page: Topical therapy for regression and melanoma prevention of congenital giant nevi.

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Nevus sebaceus with syringocystadenoma papilliferum, prurigo nodularis, apocrine cystadenoma, basaloid follicular proliferation, and sebaceoma: case report and review of nevus sebaceus-associated conditions

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 26, Issue 2 (2020)

Nevus sebaceus is a benign skin hamartoma of congenital onset that grows during puberty, and in adulthood can develop secondary benign and malignant neoplasms. The most common benign neoplasms occurring in nevus sebaceus are believed to be syringocystadenoma papilliferum, trichilemmoma, and trichoblastoma. A patient with nevus sebaceus developed not only syringocystadenoma papilliferum but also prurigo nodularis within her hamartomatous lesion; multiple biopsies were necessary to establish the diagnoses. Excision of the residual nevus sebaceus also revealed an apocrine cystadenoma, basaloid follicular proliferation, and sebaceoma. Also, it is important to select the appropriate biopsy site and size when evaluating a patient for secondary neoplasms within their nevus sebaceous. Indeed, more than one biopsy may be required if additional diagnoses are suspected.

Cover page: Nevus sebaceus with syringocystadenoma papilliferum, prurigo nodularis, apocrine cystadenoma, basaloid follicular proliferation, and sebaceoma: case report and review of nevus sebaceus-associated conditions

Article
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Lasers for Becker’s nevus

UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2019)

Becker's nevus is a common pigmented dermatosis, usually featured by ipsilateral pigmented patch with hypertrichosis. Becker's nevus is often treated with various types of lasers although other regimens are available. However, clinical outcomes appear inconsistent among studies. To summarize the clinical outcomes of Becker's nevus treated with lasers via literature review. A variety of lasers had been used alone or in combination to treat Becker's nevus. Laser wavelengths used for Becker's nevus ranged from 504 to 10,600 nm, while the number of treatment varied from 1 to 12 sessions. The clinical outcomes were mixed although combination of lasers with different wavelengths appeared to achieve a better efficacy. Adverse effects were usually mild to moderate erythema. While lasers are relatively safe, their efficacy for Becker's nevus is moderate. It seems that combination therapy could improve the outcome. However, trials in larger group of patients are required to validate the efficacy of each type of lasers for Becker's nevus.

Article
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Agminated melanocytic nevus status post dabrafenib therapy for metastatic melanoma

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 22, Issue 7 (2016)

Agminated melanocytic nevus is an uncommon type of mole, characterized by a local group of macular or papular pigmented lesions, well demarcated, without a common pigmented background. This pattern has also been associated with Spitz nevi, dysplastic melanocytic nevi, and non-melanocytic lesions.We describe the onset of an acquired agminated melanocytic nevus after dabrafenib treatment. Our case highlights paradoxical MAPK activation in the setting of single-agent BRAF blockade and underscores the importance of characterizing the diverse side effects of selective BRAF inhibitors. This is the first case, to our knowledge, of agminated melanocytic nevus in association with dabrafenib.

Cover page: Agminated melanocytic nevus status post dabrafenib therapy for metastatic melanoma

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Acquired unilateral facial melanocytosis: nevus of Sun

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 27, Issue 6 (2021)

Acquired dermal melanocytoses include pigmented lesions with a clear late onset, histologically characterized by the presence of melanocytes in the dermis. In this report, we describe a rare case of acquired unilateral facial melanocytosis, also called nevus of Sun, in a Caucasian woman.

Cover page: Acquired unilateral facial melanocytosis: nevus of Sun

Article
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Acquired blue nevus of the nail bed

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 23, Issue 2 (2017)

Blue nevi are benign proliferations of melaninproducingdendritic melanocytes located in thedermis. These nevi tend to occur mostly on the skin,predominantly on the head and neck, dorsal aspectsof the distal extremities, and the sacral area, butcan also occasionally appear on mucosal surfaces.Blue nevi of the nail apparatus are uncommon. Themajority originate in the nail matrix where there is ahigher density of melanocytes. Herein we report ona 47-year-old man with a rare common blue nevus ofthe nail bed, an area with low melanocyte density. Athorough review of the English language literaturefound no documented cases of acquired blue nevioriginating in the nailbed of the toe.

Cover page: Acquired blue nevus of the nail bed

Article
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Rapidly growing pigmented tumor on a scalp nevus sebaceous of a pediatric patient: Observation or excision

Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 20, Issue 7 (2014)

A 14-year-old girl presented with a new, rapidly growing, pigmented tumor on a previously existing yellowish, verrucous plaque on the scalp. The patient received complete surgical excision. Routine histology ruled out basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and the histological diagnosis was pigmented trichoblastoma arising in nevus sebaceous (NS). It is important to define management for new lesions developing in pediatric patients with existing nevus sebaceus.

Cover page: Rapidly growing pigmented tumor on a scalp nevus sebaceous of a pediatric patient: Observation or excision