Skin melanocytic tumor
Topics to be merged
Itos nevus
Author: Christopher S. Hale, M.D.
Topic Completed: 1 April 2013
Minor changes: 4 November 2020
Copyright: 2003-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Nevus of Ito [title]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Terminology | Epidemiology | Sites | Clinical features | Case reports | Treatment | Clinical images | Microscopic (histologic) descriptionCite this page: Hale CS. Itos nevus. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skintumormelanocyticItosnevus.html. Accessed March 4th, 2021.
Definition / general
- First described by Minor Ito in 1954 (Tohoko J Exper Med 1954;60:10)
Terminology
- More accurately grouped with "dermal melanocytoses" (nevus of Ito, nevus of Ota, Hori nevus, so-called "Mongolian" spot) (eMedicine: Nevi of Ota and Ito)
- Although melanocytic, it is NOT a true nevus
- Different entity from Hypomelanosis of Ito, a neurocutaneous disorder (J Child Neurol 2000;15:635)
Epidemiology
- Usually individuals with pigmented skin, most commonly Asians; also Hispanics, blacks, Native Americans
- More common in women
- Often occurs with nevus of Ota in same patient, but is much less common
Sites
- By definition, found in "shawl" or "cloak" distribution
Clinical features
- Macule with irregular blue-gray pigmentation
- Similar to nevus of Ota except for location
- Ito’s nevus is found in shoulder, side of neck and supraclavicular areas, within the distribution of the lateral (also called posterior) supraclavicular nerve and lateral cutaneous brachial nerves
- Nevus of Ota is found around the eyes
Case reports
- 38 year old man with nevus of Ota (Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2004;70:112)
- 72 year old woman with late onset Ito's nevus (J Cutan Pathol 2007;34:640)
- With transformation to melanoma (J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62:869)
Treatment
- Laser to lighten pigment (cosmetic purposes)
- Cryotherapy, dermabrasion, chemical peeling and surgical excision may give variable results (Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2007;15:367)
Clinical images
Images hosted on other servers:
Nevus of Ota (face) and nevus of Ito (shoulder)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Deeply pigmented dendritic melanocytes and melanophages dissecting bundles of dermal collagen in reticular dermis
- Overlying epidermis is normal
