A Case of Malignant Melanoma Arising from Melanocytic Nevus / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Malignant melanoma is a tumor arising from the melanocytes of the skin, eyes and juxtacutaneous mucous membrane. By several reports, about 20 30% of all melanomas have arisen from the preexisting nevi. Early diagnosis and intervention is the only method known to alter dramatically the course of malignant melanoma. Increased awareness of the importance of early diagnosis has focused the identification of persons at high risk for the development of melanomas. There has been some indication in medical literature that common acquired melanocytic nevi may be an important risk factor of cutaneous melanoma and nevus counts are a better risk marker than sun exposure and phenotypic traits. We report a 58-year-old man who had many melanocytic nevi on his entire body since childhood and malignant melanoma arising from one of the preexisting melanocytic nevi on the back.