Giant pigmented nevus

Giant pigmented nevus is a congenital formation on the skin of extensive size, characterized by strong pigmentation.

The content of the article:
Giant pigmented nevus: features and treatment
Symptoms of giant pigmented nevus
Diagnosis of giant pigmented nevus
Complications of giant pigmented nevus
Treatment of giant pigmented nevus
Giant pigmented nevus
This disease has two names. Some call it a giant pigmented nevus, others — pigmented nevus. In most cases, this formation turns out to be congenital and belongs to the group of melanoma-threatening nevi. Usually congenital nevi are benign tumors. The contents of such a melanoma are made up of special nevus cell tissues.

Externally, the nevus looks like a huge pigment spot, often exceeding 20-30 centimeters in size. In some cases, nevus can occupy a large area of the skin, and since it can occur both on the trunk and on the limbs, it looks quite impressive and threatening.

The cause of the giant pigmented nevus may be a violation of the differentiation process of melanoblasts. This is often observed in the time interval between the 10th and 25th weeks of pregnancy. And in cases when this violation takes place in an in-depth form, a pigmented nevus can manifest itself on the child’s body already in the first months of his life. Usually a giant pigmented nevus precedes the appearance of melanoma, and the speed of transformation depends on the size of the tumor itself.

According to statistics, pigmented nevus refers to common diseases. On average, the presence of this tumor can be observed in every child per 500,000 newborns. However, such a congenital formation as a giant nevus is observed in almost 2% of babies around the world. As can be seen from the statistics, this is a low indicator.

Diagnosis of giant pigmented nevus is quite simple due to its characteristic manifestations, and in specific cases, an operation to remove it may be prescribed. However, if the size does not allow for surgical intervention, the patient is obliged to undergo regular examinations by specialists. Only such examinations will help in time to identify a possible deformation into a malignant tumor.

Giant pigmented nevus: features and treatment
Skin neoplasms can not only spoil the appearance of a person, but also cause an appeal to a surgeon. And such a pigmented formation as a giant pigmented nevus can cause severe psychological trauma to a person. Most often, the patient is not sure that he will be able to get rid of a huge spot on the skin, and does not know what to do. However, doctors say that in most cases the treatment is effective.

Symptoms of giant pigmented nevus
An excessively enlarged size of the pigment nevus on a significant area of the skin is a reliable sign of the manifestation of the disease. Sometimes, in combination with a giant nevus, there is the appearance of several different nevi at once, having smaller sizes. As a rule, they are located on the surface of the skin next to the large one.

Giant pigmented nevus can be identified by its appearance and color. The surface of the formation itself is uneven, bumpy, sometimes warts occur, and the color of the spot can be different — from gray to black. The older the patient gets, the more the skin thickens on the damaged area, the color of the nevus deepens. In some cases, hair appears on the surface of the nevus.

Usually, the period of adolescence becomes critical for the expansion of the nevus, and most often its size may decrease somewhat. The skin in this area stops thickening, and sometimes the level of pigmentation itself may decrease.

Since the giant nevus is congenital, it remains on the patient’s body until the end of his days. And although small nevi may disappear with age, this does not apply to giant pigmented nevus: it persists on the skin even in very elderly people.

Diagnosis of giant pigmented nevus
It is the appearance of the nevus that simplifies its diagnosis. A doctor can identify a giant pigmented nevus almost immediately after the birth of a child. However, it is the responsibility of a dermatologist to identify the possible transformation of a spot into a melanoma. For this purpose, such skin studies as siascopy and dermatoscopy are used. Their essence lies in the study of the skin on the damaged area under strong magnification. Thus, the doctor can examine the nevus in detail and understand the condition of its edge and structure. If the doctor has come to the conclusion that treatment is impossible without surgery, it is necessary to understand exactly where the boundaries of education are.

Complications of giant pigmented nevus
By itself, a giant nevus may not cause problems to its owner. At the same time, the disease is fraught with complications, the main of which is the transformation of the spot into a malignant tumor. The occurrence of melanoma may occur due to the fact that there is any effect on the nevus. For example, a person may hit the area of the body where the nevus is located, or expose this area of the skin to radiation (solar or radiation). Any chemical damage is also categorically contraindicated.

The transformation of the nevus into the form of melanoma does not occur with the age of the patient, it can happen both in a child and in an adult. Statistics state that such a transformation occurs on average in 10% of the total number of patients. The transformation can be diagnosed by the appearance of the pigment nevus: a sharp change in the color of the spot and its size in the direction of increase. There may be the appearance of blood secretions, as well as the appearance of ulcers.

Treatment of giant pigmented nevus
Experts agree that the best way to treat a giant pigmented nevus is to completely remove it. Moreover, such an operation should be performed at an early age. Otherwise, there is a risk of overgrowth of education. However, the decision on the appointment of the operation in any case is made based on the indicators. It is necessary to take into account several important criteria at once, such as the age of the person, the size of the nevus, the patient’s state of health, as well as the fact that after surgery, the appointment of disability is not excluded.

If, according to some indicators, it is currently impossible to perform an operation, the patient should be regularly examined by a dermatologist and an oncologist once every three months.

The operation consists in extensive excision of the damaged area, while capturing not only the entire nevus completely, but also a small area of healthy skin located near the edges of the formation. In some cases, it is not possible to remove the nevus at the same time, then specialists resort to a step-by-step effect on the spot. After excision, a skin grafting procedure is performed.

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