Clinical Characteristics of Bilateral Nevus of Ota in 59 Patients

  Objective  To summarize the clinical characteristics of bilateral nevus of Ota.

  Methods  The clinical data of 59 patients with bilateral nevus of Ota who were treated in our department from January 1998 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to routine clinical observations including age of onset, gender, color of skin rashes, range of skin lesions, existence of bilateral symmetry, and complications, some patients also received pathological examinations and Q-switched alexandrite laser treatment.

  Results  These 59 cases of bilateral nevus of Ota accounted for 4.47% of the patients with nevus of Ota. All of these cases were congenital, with a male:female ratio of 1:4.9. The color of skin rashes was blue brown in 25 patients and light brown in 34 patients. Bilateral symmetry was found in 47 patients. Seventeen patients had bilateral trigeminal nerve involvement. Among patients with bilateral symmetry, the lesion was centered in 5 patients. Scleral involvement existed in 31 patients. In addition, there were 4 patients with congenital vascular malformation. Pathology of bilateral nevus of Ota showed no difference from that of unilateral nevus of Ota. Q-switched alexandrite laser treatment showed good effectiveness.

  Conclusion  Bilateral nevus of Ota, as a congenital disease, is prone to large area involvement, scleral involvement, and complications.