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Article
December 1949

GIANT NEVUS OF THE BACK: Treated by Complete Excision and Skin Grafting

Author Affiliations

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
From the Department of Surgery, University of Pretoria.

Arch Surg. 1949;59(6):1265-1266. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1949.01240041279006
Abstract

GIANT moles or nevi are relatively uncommon. They are, however, generally reported as medical curiosities since, until relatively recently, they have been considered beyond the scope of ordinary treatment.

As far as I am aware, the nevus in the back to be described is one of the largest which has been excised and to have the defect closed by grafts in multiple stages.

A good review of the literature was given by Pickrell and Clay.1 They also described a case of giant nevus of the thigh in a white boy aged 6 years treated by excision and immediate replacement by split-skin grafts taken from the back and the opposite thigh by means of a Padgett dermatome.

The nevus in their case measured 19 by 10 inches (48 by 25 cm.), and they described it as being the largest nevus to be excised, and to have the defect covered by

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