Inflammatory juvenile compound nevi: A melanoma is not all that it appears to be

Abstract

An 11 year-old girl presented with a recent growth pigmented conjuntival lesion in the bulbar conjunctiva of left eye. Due to the the biomicroscopic and ultrasound findings, an excisional biopsy was performed on the lesion using the «no touch» technique, as well as cryo-coagulation of surgical margins. Histopathological examination revealed an inflammatory compound nevus. Melanotic conjunctival tumours are mostly benign. However, the recent growth of a lesion, its vascularisation, irregularities of the margins, and colour change must suggest it has turned malignant. In such case, excision of the lesion is mandatory. Despite all the clinical changes, especially in young patients, it can still be an inflammatory compound nevus.

Keywords: Compound nevus; Conjunctival melanoma; Inflammatory juvenile nevus; Melanoma conjuntival; Nevus compuesto; Nevus inflamatorio juvenil; Técnica «no touch»; «No touch» technique.