DR


[page 4] [Dermatology Reports 2011; 3:e3]

Becker nevus on the neck 
with ear involvement
Khalid Mohammad Al Aboud
Department of Dermatology, King Faisal
Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract 

This is a concise observation of Becker
nevus located on the right side of the neck with
involvement of the ear.

Case Report

A 30-year old man presented with a hyper-
pigmented patch on the right side of the neck
that extended to the right ear (Figure 1). The
lesion appeared during adolescence and grad-
ually increased in size. No increase in hairs
were observed in the lesion. There was no his-
tory of preceding drug intake nor associated
systemic diseases. Skin biopsy showed hyper-
pigmentation of basal cell layer on histopathol-
ogy and there were smooth muscles in the der-
mis. The picture was consistent with Becker
nevus. Becker nevus (BN) is an uncommon
cutaneous hamartoma. It usually presents in
adolescence as a unilateral, hyperpigmented,
hairy patch or plaque, often seen on the upper
trunk.1-4

BN may involve other sites in the body like
the head or the limbs. Cephalic BN may pres-
ent with asymmetrical growth of beard hairs.4

Alfadley et al.,3 reported 12 cases of BN with
atypical features. Only one of them was a
female with BN involving the left side of the
neck. It was associated with hypertrichosis.
AlGhamdi et al.,2 reported 11 cases with atypi-
cal features; only one of them that involved the
chin and neck was a 5-year-old boy with BN. It
was also associated with hypertrichosis.

None of the above two cases involved the
ear. The present case is different as it involved
the external ear and was not associated with
hypertrichosis.

In contrast to widely held belief, I concur
with others2,3 that cases of BN in atypical loca-
tions like the neck are not uncommon and may
be under-reported.

References

1. Al Aboud K, Al Hawsawi K. Becker nevus
on the hand. Eur J Dermatol 2002;12:588.

2. AlGhamdi KM, AlKhalifah AI, AlSheikh AM,
AlSaif FM. Clinicopathologic profile of
Becker's melanosis with atypical features.
J Drugs Dermatol 2009;8:745-8. 

3. Alfadley A, Hainau B, Al Robaee A, Banka
N. Becker's melanosis: a report of 12 cases
with atypical presentation. Int J Dermatol
2005;44:20-4.

4. Kiliç A, Kaya I, Gül U, et al. Becker nevus
on face with asymmetrical growth of beard
hair. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2008;
22:246-7.

Dermatology Reports 2011; volume 3:e3

Correspondence: Khalid Al Aboud, P.O Box 5440,
Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Tel. +966.2.5566411 - Fax +966.2.5563523/ 5574350.
E-mail: amoa65@hotmail.com

Key words: Becker nevus, head, skin.

Received for publication: 12 January 2011.
Accepted for publication: 22 February 2011.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 License (by-nc 3.0).

©Copyright K.M. Al Aboud, 2011
Licensee PAGEPress, Italy
Dermatology Reports 2011; 3:e3
doi:10.4081/dr.2011.e3

Figure 1. Becker nevus on the right side of
the neck extending to the right ear.

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