Reimagining the Terms Mongolian Spot and Sign

Steven Yale; Halil Tekiner; Eileen S Yale

doi:10.7759/cureus.20396

Reimagining the Terms Mongolian Spot and Sign

Cureus. 2021 Dec 13;13(12):e20396. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20396. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Steven Yale¹, Halil Tekiner², Eileen S Yale³

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, USA.
² Department of Medical History and Ethics, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, TUR.
³ General Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA.

Abstract

The term "Mongolian Spot" rather than the preferred descriptive name congenital dermal melanocytosis (CDM) continues to be used despite compelling objections to the contrary. Terms that stigmatize a culture, region, people, country, communities, and ethnic group should be replaced by their more descriptive counterparts. Herein, we clarify terminology, discuss the historical significance, and provide a recommendation about naming this disease.

Keywords: blue-gray macules of infancy; congenital dermal melanocytosis; ink-blot macule; mongolian spot; slate grey nevus.

Publication types

Editorial