Skin nonmelanocytic tumor

Cutaneous muscle tumors & hamartomas

Becker's nevus



Last author update: 1 March 2013
Last staff update: 1 November 2023

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PubMed Search: becker's melanosis

Christopher S. Hale, M.D.
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Cite this page: Hale C. Becker's nevus. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skintumormelanocyticbeckersnevus.html. Accessed March 19th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Sharply demarcated pigmented macule, often with localized hypertrichosis (eMedicine)
  • Dermoscopy: network, focal hypopigmentation, skin furrow hypopigmentation, hair follicles, perifollicular hypopigmentation and vessels (Dermatology 2006;212:354)
Terminology
  • Also called pigmented hairy epidermal nevus, Becker's melanosis
  • Becker's nevus syndrome: Becker's nevus with congenital abnormalities (J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:965)
Epidemiology
Sites
  • Usually back, shoulder or chest
Clinical features
  • Sharply demarcated, unilateral, hyperpigmented tan macule on back, shoulder or chest
  • Hypertrichosis in 50%
Clinical images

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Bilateral Becker's nevus

Case reports
Treatment
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Increased basal layer pigmentation, mild acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and regular elongation of rete ridges
  • Variable hypertrichosis
  • Areas associated with smooth muscle hamartoma have more pronounced smooth muscle bundles irregularly dispersed within the dermis and unrelated to either hair follicles or vascular channels
  • Does not actually contain nevus cells
Differential diagnosis
  • Congenital smooth muscle hamartoma
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