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dark mole

Can you identify this dark mole on a boy's neck?

David L. Kaplan, MD—Series Editor
University of Missouri Kansas City, University of Kansas

 

 

Case 4:
The mother of a 12-year-old boy is concerned about this dark mole on his neck. The asymptomatic lesion has been present for about 3 months.
 
What do you suspect?

 

 

       

 

Answer on next page

 

 

          

Case 4: Spitz nevus


All the diagnoses in the differential are reasonable in this setting; melanoma does occur in children, albeit rarely.The results of a biopsy showed that this lesion is a Spitz nevus, D. The growth of these benign lesions is typically of sudden onset, and they can be reddish in appearance or darkly pigmented. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of histological examination of the biopsy specimen. Simple excision is the only treatment necessary.