Congenital melanocytic nevus
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The '''congenital melanocytic nevus''' is a type of [[melanocytic nevus]] (or mole) found in [[infant]]s at [[birth]]. Occurring in about 1% of infants in the [[United States]], it is located in the area of the [[head]] and [[neck]] 15% of the time.
The appearance of the congenital melanocytic nevus is similar to those of acquired ones, but are usually larger in [[diameter]] and may have excess [[hair]], called [[hypertrichosis]]. If large with hypertrichosis, it is called [[giant hairy nevus]].
Microscopically, the congenital melanocytic nevus appears similar to acquired nevi with two notable exceptions. For the congenital nevus, the neval cells are found deeper into the [[dermis]]. Also, the deeper neval cells are found along with [[neurovascular bundle]]s with both surrounding [[hair follicle]]s, [[sebaceous gland]]s, and [[subcutaneous]] [[fat]].
Many are surgically removed for aesthetics, but larger ones are excised for prevention of cancer. 5 - 15% transform into melanoma.
==References==
*Kahn, Michael A. Basic Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Volume 1. 2001.
==External links==
*[http://www.dermnet.com/thumbnailIndex.cfm?moduleID=14&moduleGroupID=424&groupIndex=0&numcols=0 Congenital Nevus photo library at Dermnet]
[[Category:Pathology]]
[[Category:Dermatology]]