Melanocytic nevi in children treated with growth hormone

There is concern that growth hormone (GH) therapy may influence the growth of melanocytic nevi. In a review of the experience of the National Cooperat ive Growth Study, we found no excess of skin cancer in children who were tr eated with GH. We also reviewed our experience in 90 children with GH defic iency and 24 with Turner syndrome. We found no difference in the nevi count between control subjects and children with GH deficiency, even after many years of GH therapy. Nor was there any relation between the duration of the rapy and the nevi count. Children with Turner syndrome had more nevi, but t here was no relation to the duration of GH therapy. These findings and the absence of a greater frequency of skin cancer in acromegaly are reassuring. It is unlikely that GH therapy has a significant influence on nevi count o r the risk of skin cancer.