Abstract
Colorful skin spots on a pediatric patient can easily be mistaken as signs of child abuse. Professionals should therefore gain knowledge about Mongolian spots; also known as Mongolian blue spots. These are flat, congenital and benign birthmarks, commonly located in sacro-coccygeal or lumbar area of an infant. Child abuse is a major public health problem across the world. The most common manifestations of physical child abuse are cutaneous, and their recognition and differential diagnosis are of great importance. Mongolian spots may appear as signs of child abuse; however, Mongolian spots are harmless.
Highlights
Mongolian spots (MS) refers to a macular blue-gray pigmentation usually on the sacral area of healthy infants
We provide an overview regarding epidemiologic distribution among countries and genders; further describe the cutaneous manifestations characteristics and distribution, and the cultural reference
A total of 2.305 newborns were examined over 2 years, 2004–2006, at Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran; and MS were found in 262 neonates (11.4%); while altogether 71,3% MS were found by Moosavi and Hosseini that examined 1,000 newborns delivered at two universities and being in their first 3 days of lives in Ahvaz, Iran, years 2002–2003 (Reza, 2010)
Summary
Mongolian spots (MS) refers to a macular blue-gray pigmentation usually on the sacral area of healthy infants. MS is usually present at birth or appears within the first weeks of life. MS can be of various shapes and sizes, they may be single or multiple, they might vary from a few to more than 20 cm, and usually they involve < 5% of the total body surface area(Gupta, 2013). The most common color is blue, they can be blue-gray, blue-black or even deep brown. Pigmentation is most intense at the age Radiography Open 2014 Vol 1. Of one year and gradually fades thereafter. It normally disappears three to five years after birth and almost always by puberty(Gupta, 2013), they can persist for life
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