sebaceous nevus

[clarjen1]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone could help. I have been seen by my local hospital for the last three months but constantly being told different things and I would like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience. I have what I thought was a birth mark on my back and wart like lesions started growing from it about 3 months ago. The first one was removed and I was told it was a viral wart. But 2 weeks later, I had another one which was already the size of a twenty pence piece in 4 weeks, again removed and told it was a viral wart. I saw the consultant again on Monday as I now have another one. He has advised my birthmark is actually sebaceous nevus, nothing to worry about and they will remove the whole area which is about the size of the palm of my hand and this will stop the wart like lesions growing. I have been reading online, and it states that sebaceous nevus is pre-cancerous and can go through neo-plastic change (which I assume is what has happened) and each lesion can have a different result, begin or malignant. Is this correct? If they remove the whole area will this resolve any potential problems. I am only concerned as the consultant was very vague and didn't provide a great amount of detail as to what it was or any issues caused by it? Thanks

[maatson]

The information in the abstract are fair enough, and then put to rest your fears, if any.
Cheers!

[clarjen1]

Unfortunately, I do not have access to the article without paying a subscription fee but the initial page gave me some information. Thank you

[maatson]

And then, you should be fine, in that these do not grow back.

[maatson]

This should answer your query.
http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(00)70112-5/abstract
Tumors arising in nevus sebaceus: A study of 596 cases☆☆☆

Bernard Cribier, Yannis Scrivener, Edouard Grosshans
Laboratoire d’Histopathologie Cutanée, Clinique Dermatologique des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg. Strasbourg, France
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(00)90136-1

[clarjen1]

Hi Maatson, yes I assume this is the reason he is wanting to get rid of it all now. What I don't understand is why they said the first two lesions were viral warts? I have never heard of a wart growing on someones back, or growing to the size of a chestnut in 8 weeks. Also from my research there is nothing to state that warts grow on sebaceous nevus. I'm just confused as I feel they drip feed me pieces of information. Have you had experience with SN? I am wondering once it is completely removed, can it come back? Thanks

[maatson]

While the chances are not much for a sebaceous nevus to turn malignant, yet the recent activity must have made your consultant in favor of getting it removed. ok?