Surgical outcomes and psychosocial impact of giant congenital melanocytic nevus surgery: A single-center case series of 136 patients

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes, complications and psychosocial impact of surgical treatment of giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN).

Methods: Patients with surgically treated GCMN who attended our clinic between May 2014 and May 2018 were included. Patient demographics and data on the characteristics of the nevus, surgical treatment, and the psychosocial impact (including C-DLQI/DLQI questionnaires) were collected.

Results: One hundred thirty-six patients were included (median age 9 years). Mean age at first surgery was 34 (+/- 61.45) months; 5.53 (+/- 3.69) surgical interventions were necessary to completely excise the nevus. The expanded skin flap was the preferred surgical technique in most locations. Complications were common but not severe. Of the patients studied, 70.4% reported that the surgery had a minor impact on their quality of life (QoL). Patients and caregivers stated that surgical treatment should begin as soon as possible, even in cases where early treatment did not have an impact on their QoL nor on their satisfaction with the surgery (p < 0.05). The lower the patient age at first surgery, the higher the surgeon's satisfaction (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Surgical treatment is a safe option for management of GCMN, and has a low impact on QoL. Patients, caregivers, and surgeons agree that the treatment should begin as soon as possible. This is the largest single-center study evaluating surgical treatment in GCMN patients and its psychosocial impact, and the first to take into account the patient, caregivers and dermatologists opinion of surgical results.