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Skin-Melanocytic tumors
Mongolian spot
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D., PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
Revised: 5 July 2009, last major update November 2008
Copyright: (c) 2005-2009, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
Definition
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● Ill defined area of blue discoloration, up to several centimeters, in lumbosacral region
● May also occur at other sites
Epidemiology
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● Congenital disorder, present at birth in most neonates from Asia, East-Africa, Turkey; also Native-Americans
● Incidence of 60-70% in Iran, Nigeria and Taiwan (Pediatr Dermatol 2006;23:61, Niger J Med 2001;10:121, Chang Gung Med J 2007;30:220), usually regresses over several years, almost always by puberty, but may persist (Int J Dermatol 2005;44:43)
● Usually not present in children with blond hair (Turk J Pediatr 2006;48:232)
● Extensive Mongolian spots may be associated with inborn errors of metabolism (Pediatr Neurol 2006;34:143, Br J Dermatol 2003;148:1173)
Case reports
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● Darker pigmented Mongolian spot superimposed on another Mongolian spot (Pediatr Dermatol 2008;25:233)
● Facial lesion (J Dermatol 2007;34:381)
Treatment and prognosis
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● Wait for regression
● Laser (Lasers Med Sci 2007;22:159)
Clinical images
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Mongolian spot Various images
Micro description
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● Normal at low power
● High power shows occasional deep dendritic melanocytes with melanin granules dissecting bundles of dermal collagen
● No associated melanophages
Differential Diagnoses
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● Bruises from child abuse
Additional references
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End of Skin-Melanocytic Tumors > Mongolian spot
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