What is melaniform nevus? The answer to this question is not known to many. Although some people are still familiar with such an unpleasant phenomenon.
What melaniform nevus looks like, what types of this formation exist, how they are diagnosed and treated, we will tell below.
basic information
Melanoform nevi are acquired (in the process of life) or congenital moles. In medical practice, such formations are often called a benign tumor. Although in some cases such moles can still develop into malignant neoplasms.
Congenital melaniform nevus usually grows slowly (during the development of the human body). Having reached a certain size, such moles freeze.
general characteristics
Melaniform nevi are benign neoplasms that form during pathological abnormalities during fetal development. Despite the fact that the spots under consideration are most often congenital, on the human body they become noticeable only in the process of growing up.
On the body of newborns and infants, such moles practically do not exist. Only 4-10% of all babies can detect age spots. With age, such neoplasms can not only appear, but also disappear on their own. For example, if a person under 25 has about 40 moles, then by the age of 30 they can remain only 15-20.
It should also be noted that at an advanced age (from 80 years) there are practically no nevuses on the body.
The number of such birthmarks can increase significantly at the age of 18-25 years. Their sizes can also vary.
Experts say that the presence of a huge number of moles on the body is a sign of a high risk of melanoma. In this regard, such neoplasms must be monitored especially carefully.
Kinds
Melanoform nevus is a formation arising from altered melanocyte cells, or the so-called nevocytes. Currently, the following types of moles are distinguished:
- Non-cellular borderline. This is a simple spot, not rising, but slightly protruding above the surface of the skin. Such a nevus is brown in color and has clear contours.
- Intradermal melanoform nevus. This is the most common birthmark. The accumulation of pigment cells is located in the thickness of the middle layer of the skin, that is, in the dermis.
- Complex pigmented. Such a nevus rises above the skin. It can have a different color. Very often, hard hairs grow on it.
- Intradermal. This mole protrudes above the surface of the skin and has an uneven, tuberous surface. Usually she appears at the age of 12-30 years.
- Blue. This spot has a characteristic color due to the fact that it is associated with deposits of melanin under the skin. Blue nevi are tight to the touch and rise slightly above the skin.
- Basal . This is a kind of mole that has the usual flesh color.
- Nevus Ota is usually located on the face in the form of "dirty" spots.
- Seton's nevus is a special kind of dermal spot when there is a patch of skin around it that is deprived of pigment.
- Nevus Ita is very similar to Nevus Ota, but is located under the collarbone, in the scapula, on the chest or neck.
- Papillomatous nevus is large, located on the back of the neck or on the head. Very often, hairs grow on it.
- Becker Nevus occurs in young men 11-15 years old. It can reach a size of up to 20 cm.
- The linear nevus appears from birth and is a group of small nodules that are located on the body in the form of a chain.
Melaniform nevus: ICD 10
The international classification of diseases of the 10th revision is used in healthcare as a leading statistical basis. According to the mentioned document, the disease in question has a code - D22. The location of this disease in this classification is as follows:
- Nevus lips.
- Melaniform nevus of the eyelid, including adhesion of the eyelids.
- Nevus of the ear and ear canal external.
- Nevus of unspecified and other parts of the face.
- Neck and scalp.
- Melaniform nevus of the trunk.
- Upper extremity, including the shoulder girdle.
- Nevus of the lower limb, including the hip area.
- Melaniform nevus, unspecified.
Doctor's tasks
A doctor who diagnoses the disease in question has a number of important tasks:
- Correctly establish the type of mole and determine the possibilities of its treatment.
- Recognize (on time) the beginning of the process of the formation of malignant degeneration.
- Identify indications for other diagnostic methods (if necessary).
Patient examination
Examination of a patient with a birthmark begins with a conversation and examination. During the survey, the doctor establishes such important details as the period of the birthmark appearance (from birth or with age), its recent behavior (for example, whether it changed color, increased in size, etc.), previously diagnosed and treated .
After interviewing the patient should be examined. The doctor evaluates the size, shape and location of the spot, the presence of hair on it and other features. Then he makes an accurate diagnosis and prescribes therapeutic measures.
If necessary, the doctor conducts additional diagnostics. To do this, smears are taken from a mole. Indications for this research method are: bleeding, cracks on the surface of the birthmark.
Taking a smear from the nevus has a significant drawback. In the process, microtrauma can occur, which can subsequently provoke malignant growth. In this regard, such a study is carried out only in specialized cancer clinics.
Other diagnostic methods
The safest diagnostic method is luminescent microscopy. In this case, the mole is examined under a microscope, directly on the human body.
Fluorescence microscopy is a safe, accurate and painless procedure. However, devices for its implementation are not available in all clinics.
Also, computer diagnostics are used to study the birthmark. Thanks to this technique, an image of the nevus is obtained, which is quickly compared with an existing database. As a result, the doctor can very quickly establish the correct diagnosis, and then prescribe treatment.
Laboratory diagnostics
This method is used to establish the process of degeneration of the birthmark into melanoma. If it becomes malignant, then special substances called tumor markers appear in the patientβs blood. The detection of these allows you to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
The choice of treatment
Today, there are several ways to treat age spots. They can be excised surgically or treated with other alternative methods.
The choice of therapy cannot be determined by the desires of the patient himself. Her testimony is determined by the doctor, taking into account such factors as:
- Features of the age spots (risk of transition to melanoma, variety, size).
- Availability of necessary equipment.
Surgical method
Surgical removal of the nevus (using a scalpel) is the most common technique, since it does not require the use of special equipment.
Such tactics are indicated for moles that are large. The disadvantages of this method include the following:
- in accordance with the rules, the surgeon must remove not only the pigment spot, but also the integument that surrounds it (about 3-5 cm around);
- after removal of the mole , scars and scars often remain;
- in young children, such an education is almost always removed under general anesthesia.
It should also be noted that in some cases, very large non-vermal moles have to be removed in parts. Doctors rarely resort to this method, since the remaining part of the spot is able to give active growth or degenerate into a malignant neoplasm.
Other removal methods
In addition to excising the nevus with a scalpel, in modern clinics use the following methods:
- Cryodestruction (this is freezing moles).
- Electrocoagulation (action of high temperature).
- Laser Therapy
It is impossible not to say that radiosurgical methods are often used to excise birthmarks. Their essence lies in the fact that a special device - a surgitron - generates a beam of radiation (radioactive), which is concentrated in the area of ββthe pathological focus and removes it, does not harm the surrounding tissues.