Becker Melanosis

Diagnosis: Becker Melanosis

Asymptomatic irregular brown-to-black, hairy patch over the left shoulder.

Clinical Presentation

Asymptomatic irregular brown-to-black, hairy patch over the left shoulder.

Clinical History

Submitted by Alaa Saad. Originally posted September 26, 2010.

Treatment

See case discussion.

Differential Diagnosis

• Congenital melanocytic nevus • Café au lait macule • Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation • Smooth muscle hamartoma

Key Learnings

• Also called Becker melanosis — unilateral, hyperpigmented, hairy patch on shoulder/chest • Develops around puberty — androgen-dependent • NOT a true melanocytic nevus — increased melanin with smooth muscle hamartoma • Becker nevus syndrome: associated ipsilateral breast hypoplasia, skeletal anomalies • Benign — no malignant potential

Tags: becker, melanosis, alaa saad