Esophageal melanocytosis: Case report and literature review

Esophageal melanocytosis is a rare benign entity, with little specificity in terms of symptoms, usually located in the middle and lower thirds of the esophagus, characterized by melanocytic proliferation in the esophageal squamous epithelium and melanin deposition in the mucosa.2--4 Little is known about the etiology and natural course of this condition, although it is hypothesized that it may result from a chronic irritant stimuli such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic esophagitis, which would cause mucosal damage and subsequent reactive melanocytic hyperplasia.2,3,5 This article aims to report a rare case of melanocytosis in a patient with atypical chest pain and dyspepsia, and to review the literature. The evolution of the patient was monitored and a record of new clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings was made, as well as a comparison with other cases reported in the relevant literature.