A 9-year-old boy presents with a solitary pigmented naevus on his back surrounded by a symmetric rim of depigmentation that appeared over the last 8 months. His father has vitiligo. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
- A Meyerson's naevus
- B Sutton's naevus (halo naevus) ✓
- C Spitz naevus
- D Naevus depigmentosus
Explanation
B central melanocytic naevus encircled by a band of depigmentation is a Sutton's naevus or halo naevus. It results from a cell-mediated immune response against naevus cells, shares antigens with melanocytes, and is strongly associated with vitiligo, especially when there is a family history. Meyerson's naevus shows an eczematous halo rather than depigmentation, and naevus depigmentosus is congenital without a central naevus.
Reference: Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, 9th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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