Pigmented lesions in newborn infants

Abstract

Newborn infants (1058) were examined. Forty-one (3.9%) had clinically discernible pigmented lesions compatible with melanocytic nevi. Biopsy was performed on 34 of the 41 and 11, representing 1.01% of the infants, proved to be melanocytic nevi. No giant (garment) nevi were seen in this series. Two of the 11 nevi pathologically examined showed histological changes similar to those that have been reported in some giant nevi, but the remaining 9 were not only different from criteria usually assigned to giant nevi, but they also differed from the usual adult nevi, in that most were predominantly junctional. None of the melanocytic nevi in this series showed any suggestion of malignant change. In newborn infants it is often impossible clinically to distinguish nevi from other types of pigmented lesions, as only 11 of the 34 pigmented lesions were melanocytic nevi. Seven of the 11 melanocytic nevi were under 1.5 cm in diameter. No pigmented lesions were found on the palms, soles or genitalia.