Childhood malignant blue nevus of the ear associated with two intracranial melanocytic tumors—metastases or neurocutaneous melanosis?

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 35; no. 10; pp. 1292 - 1296
• Main Authors: Popović, Mara, Dolenc-Stražar, Zvezdana, Anžič, Jožica, Luzar, Boštjan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2004; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain cancer; cellular blue nevus of childhood; Child; Dermatology; Diagnosis, Differential; Dura Mater; Ear Neoplasms - pathology; Ears & hearing; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); malignant blue nevus of childhood; Medical sciences; Meningeal Neoplasms - secondary; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - diagnosis; neurocutaneous melanosis; Neurosurgery; Nevus, Blue - pathology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Radiation therapy; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skull Neoplasms - secondary; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; MM; malignant blue nevus of childhood; NCM; neurocutaneous melanosis; cellular blue nevus of childhood; Human; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Pigmentation disorder; Melanocyte; Metastasis; Malignant tumor; Intracranial tumor; Anatomic pathology; Blue nevus; Association; Ear; Cell; Child; Neurocutaneous melanosis
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2004.07.012

Blue nevus is an uncommon pigmented tumor of dermal melanocytes that has traditionally been classified into common and cellular variant. It is usually a skin tumor in adults but can become apparent in early childhood or even be present at birth. Malignant blue nevus is a rare melanocytic tumor of the skin arising from a preexisting cellular blue nevus. We report a multinodular blue nevus of the left ear in an 11-year-old girl who also had 2 intracranial melanocytic lesions. Differential diagnosis between metastases from malignant blue nevus and neurocutaneous melanosis is discussed.