Dysplastic nevi with an underlying or juxtaposed neurofibroma: does a relationship exist?

BACKGROUND

Neurofibromas and dysplastic nevi are both common skin disorders found in the general population. The cells in both of these neoplasms are derived from neural crest. There are no published reports of these two lesions occurring in juxtaposition.

OBJECTIVE

We report, for the first time, three cases of dysplastic nevi in spatial association with a neurofibroma that occurred in unrelated individuals.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

Three cases of dysplastic nevi occurring in association with solitary neurofibromas were selected prospectively from the routine accessions from August 1, 2003, to July 31, 2005. In none of the three cases, was a dysplastic nevus suspected by the clinician.

CONCLUSION

The finding of dysplastic nevi in a spatial relationship to a neurofibroma is not happenstance since they are both of neural crest cell origin and respond to the same growth factors. It is our belief that these lesions are related and may occur together more often than reported.