| giant pigmented nevus | These large pigmented (often hairy) congenital nevi are important because of their increased risk (10 to 15%) of conversion into malignant melanoma. A biopsy can confirm if cells have turned malignant. Any change in a pre-existing nevus should prompt a physician evaluation. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| cellular blue nevus | A large, acquired blue nevus in which melanocytes are often clear and large, alternating with pigmented spindle cells and which may expand deeply into the subcutis; malignant change is very rare. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pigmented hair epidermal nevus | A nevus first seen as an irregular pigmentation of the shoulders, upper chest, or scapular area, gradually enlarging irregularly and becoming thickened and hairy. Synonym: pigmented hair epidermal nevus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white sponge nevus | An autosomal dominant condition of the oral cavity characterised by soft, white or opalescent, thickened and corrugated folds of mucous membrane; other mucosal sites are occasionally involved simultaneously. Synonym: familial white folded dysplasia, oral epithelial nevus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| compound nevus | A nevus in which there are nests of melanocytes in the epidermal-dermal junction and in the dermis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| congenital giant pigmented nevus | These large pigmented (often hairy) congenital nevi are important because of their increased risk (10 to 15%) of conversion into malignant melanoma. A biopsy can confirm if cells have turned malignant. Any change in a pre-existing nevus should prompt a physician evaluation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| woolly-hair nevus | A circumscribed patch of fine, curly hair in an otherwise normal scalp appearing during childhood and enlarging for a period of 2 to 3 years; autosomal dominant inheritance. There is another, mostly sporadic form that may be autosomal recessive. Synonym: allotrichia circumscripta. (05 Mar 2000) |
| congenital nevus | A melanocytic nevus that is visible at birth, is often larger than an acquired nevus, and more frequently involves deeper structures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| halo nevus | A benign, sometimes multiple, melanocytic nevus in which involution occurs with a central brown mole surrounded by a uniformly depigmented zone or halo. Synonym: leukoderma acquisitum centrifugum, Sutton's disease, Sutton's nevus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spider nevus | A branched growth of dilated capillaries on the skin, resembling a spider. This abnormality may be associated with cirrhosis of the liver. (27 Sep 1997) |
| spindle cell nevus | A benign, slightly pigmented or red superficial small skin tumour composed of spindle-shaped, epithelioid, and multinucleated cells that may appear atypical; most common in children, but also appearing in adults. Synonym: benign juvenile melanoma, epithelioid cell nevus, spindle cell nevus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Spitz nevus | A benign, slightly pigmented or red superficial small skin tumour composed of spindle-shaped, epithelioid, and multinucleated cells that may appear atypical; most common in children, but also appearing in adults. Synonym: benign juvenile melanoma, epithelioid cell nevus, spindle cell nevus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nape nevus | A pale vascular birthmark found on the nape of the neck in 25 to 50% of normal persons. Synonym: Unna's mark. (05 Mar 2000) |
| strawberry nevus | A small nevus vascularis (capillary haemangioma) resembling a strawberry in size, shape, and colour; it usually disappears spontaneously in early childhood. See: capillary haemangioma. Synonym: strawberry birthmark, strawberry mark. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nevus | <dermatology, tumour> Tumour like but nonneoplastic hamartoma of skin. A vascular naevus is a localised capillary rich area of the skin (strawberry birthmark, sometimes the much more extensive port wine stain). A mole benign melanoma) is a pigmented naevus, a cluster of melanocytes containing melanin. (13 Nov 1997) |