LOWER AND UPPER EXTREMITY ATROPHY ASSOCIATED WITH A GIANT CONGENITAL MELANOCYTIC NEVUS

Giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMN) may be associated with a vari ety of malformations, Recently, atrophy of the underlying extremity wa s reported for the first time. We observed two patients with GCMN on t he extremities with marked atrophy of the underlying tissue without fu nctional impairment, According to the definition of hamartoma, it seem s possible that one component of tissue has decreased. Dermatologists treating patients with such nevi in the first weeks of life with derma brasion, laser, or curettage need to know that the natural course of G CMN may lead to atrophy and that this does not necessarily result from the treatment regimen.