Congenital divided compound nevi of the eyelids

Background: Congenital divided nevi of the eyelids are a rare melanocytic lesion. Only 30 patients are reported in literature. We report on a 6-year-old boy and a 41-year-old male with this lesion and give a short overview of the literature.

Methods: Patient 1: A 6-year-old boy presented with a pigmented divided nevus of the left eye involving the upper and lower lid naselly. The lesion had increased in size in the last one year. Otherwise the results of ophthalmological examination were unremarkable. The divided nevus was completely excised. Histopathological studies revealed a melanocytic compound nevus. Patient 2: A 41-year old male presented in our department with a divided pigmented nevus on his left eye involving the upper and lower lid laterally. The lesion had gradually increased since birth. Otherwise the results of ophthalmological examination were unremarkable. A subtotoal excision and debulking procedure was performed. The defect in the lower eyelid was covered using a transposition flap from the upper eyelid. Histopathological examination revealed a melanocytic compound nevus.

Conclusions: Divided nevi of the eyelids may be disfiguring and include the possibility of deprivation amblyopia when reaching a certain size in childhood. Malignant changes of this lesion were not observed so far. Total excision or subtotal excision and a debulking procedure may be helpful.