What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Blue Naevus of Vagina
• Vaginal Blue Naevus
• Vaginal Blue Nevus

What is Blue Nevus of Vagina? (Definition/Background Information)

• A nevus is a mole on the skin that can occur on any part of the body. A blue nevus is a benign proliferation of melanocytes (cell that make melanin pigment) in the dermis or skin
• Blue Nevus of Vagina is a benign lesion that is composed of spindle pigmented cells. In most cases, it is an incidental finding during a pelvic exam performed for other medical reasons
• There are no clearly established risk factors for Blue Nevus of Vagina and the cause of tumor formation is also unknown. However, its occurrence tumor is extremely rare
• Blue nevi are generally asymptomatic in nature and no significant signs and symptoms or complications are present
• Treatment is generally not required for a Blue Nevus of Vagina. The prognosis is generally excellent with or without treatment, since these moles are typically benign

Who gets Blue Nevus of Vagina? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• In general, blue nevus is a benign condition that may be present at birth or form at any age in an individual, termed congenital or acquired respectively
• The most common location of a blue nevus is the skin, but a blue nevus in the female genital tract is rare. The mole may form anywhere in the female genital tract, but less than 10 cases have been currently described in the medical literature
• Among the reported cases, a wide age range of 19-73 years is noted, with an average age of presentation of 43 years
• All racial and ethnic groups are at risk for Blue Nevus of Vagina, but typically blue nevus are more frequent in fair-skinned individuals (Caucasians)

What are the Risk Factors for Blue Nevus of Vagina? (Predisposing Factors)

No specific risk factors have been identified for Blue Nevus of Vagina. However, in general, the risk factors identified for blue nevus of skin (the most common location for a blue nevus) include:

• Sun exposure
• Generally, lighter-skinned races or individuals (such as Caucasians of America and Europe) are at a higher risk compared to other darker-skinned racial groups (such as Africans and Asians)

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Blue Nevus of Vagina? (Etiology)

• The cause of Blue Nevus of Vagina formation is unknown. Blue nevus is believed to form from abnormally located melanocytes, which are pigmented cells
• The tumor may be congenital or acquired and it forms due to unknown factors. The cause may be probably genetic

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Blue Nevus of Vagina?

Blue Nevus of Vagina may not present any signs and symptoms in most cases. The general features of the condition include:

• It is a benign tumor of melanocytic cells. The tumor may occur as a single lesion or may be many in numbers
• The moles are flattened lesions with a maximum size of 2 cm. The borders of the nevus may not be well-defined
• The benign nevus is usually slow-growing and pigmented. The color may vary from blue to blue black

Blue nevus of skin, in general, occurs early in life and grows in size, as the child becomes an adult. As one age, these moles may become smaller and in many cases, they can even disappear.

How is Blue Nevus of Vagina Diagnosed?

In most cases, a Blue Nevus of Vagina is diagnosed incidentally. However, the following diagnostic tools may be employed by the healthcare provider:

• Complete physical (pelvic) examination with evaluation of medical history
• A colposcopic examination may show a deeply pigmented area on the surface of the vaginal wall
• Tissue biopsy: A tissue biopsy is performed and sent to a laboratory for a pathological examination. The pathologist examines the biopsy under a microscope. After putting together clinical findings, special studies on tissues (if needed) and with microscope findings, the pathologist arrives at a definitive diagnosis

Note: In majority of the cases, no biopsy is necessary. But they may be performed to rule out other conditions presenting similar signs and symptoms, such as a melanoma.

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Blue Nevus of Vagina?

There are frequently no complications that arise from a Blue Nevus of Vagina.

• Very rarely, blue nevus may be seen along with malignant melanoma, which may need further investigation by a healthcare provider
• However, typically a blue nevus does not transform into a melanoma

How is Blue Nevus of Vagina Treated?

The treatment measures for Blue Nevus of Vagina include:

• In many cases, a blue nevus may raise a suspicion for a melanoma. Hence, a tissue biopsy may be performed. Once a diagnosis of Vaginal Blue Nevus is made, the healthcare provider may chose to regularly observe the benign mole and follow a “wait and watch” approach
• Surgical excision and removal of the mole, if necessary, in very rare cases may be undertaken. The type of surgical excision undertaken is dependent upon the size and location of blue nevus on the surface

How can Blue Nevus of Vagina be Prevented?

Current medical research has not established a method of preventing the occurrence of Blue Nevus of Vagina.

What is the Prognosis of Blue Nevus of Vagina? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

The prognosis of Blue Nevus of Vagina is excellent, since it is a benign tumor.

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Blue Nevus of Vagina:

• An extremely rare variant of Vaginal Blue Nevus, known as Giant Angiomatoid Cellular Blue Nevus of Vagina that forms a cystic mass, is described in the medical literature
• A blue nevus is a benign proliferation of melanocytes in the dermis/skin

The following link can help you understand blue nevus:

http://www.dovemed.com/diseases-conditions/blue-nevus/