Normal or Atypical Nevus

Raised or flat, pigmented skin moles or nevi (“melanocytic nevi”) develop as a result of melanocytes growing in groups, and can appear anywhere on your body. Melanocytic nevi may be congenital (usually present at birth) or acquired (develop over a lifetime). While congenital melanocytic nevi are mostly considered benign, acquired melanocytic nevi can further evolve and cause potential trouble.

Atypical or Dysplastic Melanocytic Nevus is the term use for pigmented lesion that have evolved, and shows mild, moderate or severe architectural disorder and/or cytologic atypia on histopathology examination of biopsied tissues.

• Dysplastic Nevi (DN) are considered in-between acquired melanocytic nevi and melanoma
• Patients diagnosed with dysplastic nevi are at greater risk of developing melanoma

Schedule your exam for full or partial body skin cancer check

Call: (847) 518-9999

Normal Nevus

• Appears after birth
• Expand in proportion to body growth
• Smaller than 5 mm in diameter
• Evenly pigmented or symmetrically speckled tan or brown
• Discrete, well-demarcated, smooth borders
• Number 10 to 40; scattered over the entire body
• Enlarge and increase in number during childhood and puberty
• More prominent during pregnancy
• Present on sun-exposed surfaces above the waist
• Do not appear on the scalp, breast, and buttocks, hands, feet

Atypical (Dysplastic) Nevus

• Intermediate between acquired moles and melanoma (gross and microscopic appearance)
• Greater than 6 mm in diameter
• Raised in the center and flat at the edges
• Darkly or irregularly pigmented
• Multiple shades of brown of pink
• Irregular borders, with notches, fade into the surrounding skin
• Single or multiple (max exceed 100)
• Look very different, one from the other
• Seen on sun-exposed areas—the back is the most common site
• Occur below the waist and on the scalp, breast, and buttocks
• A severely dysplastic nevus is indistinguishable from early melanoma.

Examination with Surface Digital Dermatoscopy allows for visualization of details on skin surface pigment distribution, texture, outline border, etc. Image of lesion surface is displayed on the computer screen for easy viewing and great educational tool. With Dermatoscopy physician can only determine the potential for malignancy of nevus. Definitive diagnosis is reached after biopsy of suspicious lesion.

Complete surgical excision with clear margins, instead of shave punch biopsy, might be recommended for some of the suspicious lesions

To schedule examination of suspicious skin mole contact us today.
Call: (847) 518-9999