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Melanosis

Melanosis is the benign pigmentation of the mucosal surface of the vulva.

The areas are multiple, flat, and stable. Biopsy, if performed, will show clusters of melanocytes with a benign appearance.

The cause is unknown but genetics presumably plays a role. Left alone, they will remain stable for long periods of time, but may fade following childbirth.

As they do not pose a threat and are not a cosmetic issue, no treatment is necessary.

Suspicious areas or areas that are rapidly changing should be biopsied.

Note to readers from the Brookside Associates:
Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology was released in 2000. There is a newer product, Military Obstetrics & Gynecology available here.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C.
20372-5300

Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology - 2nd Edition
The Health Care of Women in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMEDPUB 6300-2C
January 1, 2000

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.
The listing of any non-Federal product in this CD is not an endorsement of the product itself, but simply an acknowledgement of the source.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
January 1, 2001

United States Special Operations Command
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, Florida
33621-5323

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division. It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

Operational Medicine 2001
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