This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Pavlidou, E. Articles by Panteliadis, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pavlidou, E. Articles by Panteliadis, C. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Neurocutaneous Melanosis: Report of Three Cases and Up-to-date Review

Paediatric-Neurology Department, Ippokratio Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Christian Hagel, MD, PhD

Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany

Antigoni Papavasilliou, MD

Department of Neurology, Pendeli Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece

Sotiris Giouroukos, MD, PhD

Agia Sophia Hospital, University of Athens, Greece

Christos Panteliadis, MD, PhD

Paediatric-Neurology Department, Ippokratio Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, cpantel{at}hol.gr

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare noninherited embryonic neuroectodermal dysplasia, which is observed sporadically and never affects the entire integument. The hallmark of neurocutaneous melanosis in the neonatal period is the presence of a large bilateral hairy dark nevus with satellite nevi over the trunk and neck. The diagnosis should be considered in neonates with large pigmented nevi and in those with more than 3 hairy dark nevi regardless of their size. Neonates with neurocutaneous melanosis are at risk of developing neurological problems. The most common neurological complications are hydrocephalus, seizures, cranial nerve dysfunction, and signs of spinal cord and root involvement. The authors report 3 cases of histologically confirmed neurocutaneous melanosis and describe the course of neurological symptoms and clinical findings including cognitive tests and neuroimaging. The case reports are complemented by an up-to date review on this clinical entity.

Key Words: neurocutaneous melanosis • nevi • literature review

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 23, No. 12, 1382-1391 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0883073808319069


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?