Question:medium
Which of the following is NOT a nevus of melanocytic origin?
Which of the following is NOT a nevus of melanocytic origin?
Show Hint
Becker nevus is an appendageal lesion with hair, not a melanocytic one.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Mongolian spot
- Nevus of Ito
- Nevus of Ota
- Becker nevus
Show Solution
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Group the dermal melanocytoses. Several pigmented birthmarks owe their colour to melanocytes that are trapped deep in the dermis. The Mongolian spot over the sacrum, the nevus of Ito over the shoulder region, and the nevus of Ota around the eye all belong to this melanocytic family and share the same cell of origin.
Step 2: Examine Becker nevus separately. Becker nevus behaves differently. It is a hamartoma of skin appendages, typically appearing on the shoulder or chest of young males as a tan patch with coarse hair and sometimes underlying smooth muscle. Its pigmentation reflects an epidermal and basal change, not a proliferation of melanocytes, so it is classed as an appendageal nevus.
Step 3: Pick the exception. Because three of the four options are true melanocytic lesions and only Becker nevus is appendageal in nature, Becker nevus is the one that is not of melanocyte origin.
\[\boxed{\text{Becker nevus (option 4)}}\]
Step 2: Examine Becker nevus separately. Becker nevus behaves differently. It is a hamartoma of skin appendages, typically appearing on the shoulder or chest of young males as a tan patch with coarse hair and sometimes underlying smooth muscle. Its pigmentation reflects an epidermal and basal change, not a proliferation of melanocytes, so it is classed as an appendageal nevus.
Step 3: Pick the exception. Because three of the four options are true melanocytic lesions and only Becker nevus is appendageal in nature, Becker nevus is the one that is not of melanocyte origin.
\[\boxed{\text{Becker nevus (option 4)}}\]
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