Common acquired nevi (moles) include junctional, dermal, and compound nevi, which are all considered benign. These distinctions are based upon the location of melanocytic nests in the epidermis, dermis, or both, respectively. Clinically, junctional nevi are flat (macular) whereas dermal and compound nevi are elevated relative to the surrounding skin (papular).
Nevi typically arise during childhood, adolescence, or very early adulthood and then senesce in later years. During pregnancy, existing nevi may darken and become noticeable to the patient. Compound nevi are more common in individuals with lighter skin phototypes; other forms of nevi (those on palms, soles, conjunctiva, and in the nail bed) are more common in individuals of African and Asian descent.
Common acquired nevus - Hair and Scalp
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Synopsis
Codes
ICD10CM:
D22.9 – Melanocytic nevi, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
400096001 – Melanocytic nevus
D22.9 – Melanocytic nevi, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
400096001 – Melanocytic nevus
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Melanoma
- Atypical nevus
- Acrochordon (skin tag)
- Neurofibroma
- Dermatofibroma
- Blue nevus – typically macular, 2-5 mm, and with a blue hue
- Combined nevus – two types of nevi that are seen together in one lesion; most commonly blue nevus and dermal or compound nevus
- Recurrent melanocytic nevus – history of the initial biopsy is often critical for the dermatologist and/or pathologist. Recurrent nevi characteristically occur in women, 20-30 years of age, on the trunk within 6 months of the original biopsy. While many different clinical morphologies may be seen, it often manifests as a scar with variegated hyper- or hypopigmentation, linear streaking and halo, stippled and/or diffuse pigmentation patterns. While most cases do not pose a diagnostic challenge on histopathology, some specimens, especially partial biopsies, may look indistinguishable from melanoma on histopathologic grounds alone.
- Desmoplastic nevus – typically small (< 1 cm) skin-colored to erythematous to mildly pigmented papule or nodule on the extremity of a young adult (average 30 years of age). Histopathology reveals spindled to epithelioid melanocytes within a fibrotic stroma.
- Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
- Wart
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Last Updated:09/04/2018
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Common acquired nevus - Hair and Scalp
See also in: Overview,External and Internal Eye,Oral Mucosal Lesion