Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report

Abstract Background Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is a very rare condition characterized by a large skin lesion and an increased risk of complications like neurocutaneous melanosis and malignant transformation. Reports of giant congenital melanocytic nevus are scarce in the sub-Saharan African...

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Main Authors: Francky Teddy Endomba, Charlie Romain Mbega, Joel Noutakdie Tochie, Saint-Just N. Petnga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-06-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-018-1707-y
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author Francky Teddy Endomba
Charlie Romain Mbega
Joel Noutakdie Tochie
Saint-Just N. Petnga
author_facet Francky Teddy Endomba
Charlie Romain Mbega
Joel Noutakdie Tochie
Saint-Just N. Petnga
author_sort Francky Teddy Endomba
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is a very rare condition characterized by a large skin lesion and an increased risk of complications like neurocutaneous melanosis and malignant transformation. Reports of giant congenital melanocytic nevus are scarce in the sub-Saharan African literature and here we present a case of this disease in a Cameroonian adolescent. Case presentation A 12-year-old Cameroonian girl from the "Baka" ethnic group, with no relevant family and medical histories presented with a progressively extensive brownish-black nodular hypertrophic skin lesion of approximately 45 cm, which she had had since she was 2-days old. The lesion covered her entire back giving an appearance of “turtle child”, which was highly suggestive of a giant congenital melanocytic nevus. She was booked in for a surgical intervention organized by a health campaign within her community. Meanwhile she was provided with psychological support and her family was counseled on warning signs of complications which would warrant an urgent consultation. Conclusions Here we presented a case of giant congenital melanocytic nevus, apparently the first in the Cameroonian literature. In view of the potential severe complications as well as psychological trauma of this pathology, we draw clinicians’ attention to this extremely rare but real pathology in our country, for a timely diagnosis and management.
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spelling doaj.art-2a82d3b80cdb40d0abe3f98f89e496e72022-12-22T01:26:48ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472018-06-011211410.1186/s13256-018-1707-yGiant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case reportFrancky Teddy Endomba0Charlie Romain Mbega1Joel Noutakdie Tochie2Saint-Just N. Petnga3Department of Internal Medicine and Sub-specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé IDepartment of Internal Medicine and Sub-specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé IDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé IDepartment of Internal Medicine and Sub-specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé IAbstract Background Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is a very rare condition characterized by a large skin lesion and an increased risk of complications like neurocutaneous melanosis and malignant transformation. Reports of giant congenital melanocytic nevus are scarce in the sub-Saharan African literature and here we present a case of this disease in a Cameroonian adolescent. Case presentation A 12-year-old Cameroonian girl from the "Baka" ethnic group, with no relevant family and medical histories presented with a progressively extensive brownish-black nodular hypertrophic skin lesion of approximately 45 cm, which she had had since she was 2-days old. The lesion covered her entire back giving an appearance of “turtle child”, which was highly suggestive of a giant congenital melanocytic nevus. She was booked in for a surgical intervention organized by a health campaign within her community. Meanwhile she was provided with psychological support and her family was counseled on warning signs of complications which would warrant an urgent consultation. Conclusions Here we presented a case of giant congenital melanocytic nevus, apparently the first in the Cameroonian literature. In view of the potential severe complications as well as psychological trauma of this pathology, we draw clinicians’ attention to this extremely rare but real pathology in our country, for a timely diagnosis and management.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-018-1707-yGiant congenital melanocytic melanoma“Turtle child”Cameroon
spellingShingle Francky Teddy Endomba
Charlie Romain Mbega
Joel Noutakdie Tochie
Saint-Just N. Petnga
Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Giant congenital melanocytic melanoma
“Turtle child”
Cameroon
title Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report
title_full Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report
title_fullStr Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report
title_short Giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a Cameroonian child: a case report
title_sort giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a cameroonian child a case report
topic Giant congenital melanocytic melanoma
“Turtle child”
Cameroon
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-018-1707-y
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AT joelnoutakdietochie giantcongenitalmelanocyticnevusinacameroonianchildacasereport
AT saintjustnpetnga giantcongenitalmelanocyticnevusinacameroonianchildacasereport