Dysplastic nevi of the scalp and forehead in children

To determine if there is a significant difference in the relative frequency and degree of atypia of sporadic dysplastic nevi from the scalp, face, and neck area in children as compared with nevi from the rest of the body, we reviewed 99 consecutive biopsy specimens of melanocytic nevi from the scalp , face, and neck areas in children less than 18 years of age and compared t hem with 95 consecutive cases of nevi from other areas of the body in child ren of the same age, Large numbers of the nevi biopsied from the scalp (13 of 31; 41.93%) and forehead (2 of 10; 20%) were dysplastic. The number of d ysplastic nevi from the neck (1 of 58; 1.72%) was not assessed as very diff erent from the incidence found in other regions of the body, where 7 dyspla stic nevi (7.36%) from a total of 95 nevi were found. Of the 13 dysplastic nevi from the scalp, 9 showed minimal atypia and 4 showed moderate atypia, No nevi with severe atypia were found, Many pigmented nevi from the scalp a nd forehead in children in this study were dysplastic, This finding points out the importance of examining the scalp of children for the presence of d ysplastic nevi. The majority of nevi from the neck were common nevi.