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However, a melanocytic nevus is benign, and melanoma is malignant. Most melanocytic nevi never evolve into a cancer, with the lifetime risk for an individual nevus being 1 in 3000 for men and 1 in 11 000 for women. [5] Moreover, dermatologists have a standardized system for determining whether a skin lesion is suspicious for malignant melanoma.
If a melanocytic nevus is suspected of being a melanoma, it needs to be sampled or removed via skin biopsy, and sent for microscopic evaluation by a pathologist. Depending on the size and location of the original nevus, a complete excisional skin biopsy or a punch skin biopsy can be done. Removal can also occur by shaving.
It is estimated that neurocutaneous melanosis is present in 2% to 45% of patients with giant congenital melanocytic nevi. Patients with non-giant congenital melanocytic nevi seem to have a much lower, but undefined risk. Of these patients, only a small number are symptomatic, usually displaying symptoms before the age of 2. [6]
In 1992, the NIH recommended that the term "dysplastic nevus" be avoided in favor of the term "atypical mole". [1] An atypical mole may also be referred to as an atypical melanocytic nevus, [2] atypical nevus, B-K mole, Clark's nevus, dysplastic melanocytic nevus, or nevus with architectural disorder. [3]
Some melanocytic nevi, and melanoma-in-situ (lentigo maligna) have resolved with an experimental treatment, imiquimod (Aldara) topical cream, an immune enhancing agent. In view of the very poor cure rate with standard excision, some surgeons combine the two methods: surgical excision of the lesion, then three months treatment of the area with ...
A related category of melanocytic proliferation is superficial atypical melanocytic proliferations of uncertain significance (SAMPUS). This category, unlike MELTUMP, which implies as yet undetermined potential for metastases even after complete excision, signifies lesions without metastatic potential at time of excision but with potential to ...
Skin cancers result in 80,000 deaths a year as of 2010, 49,000 of which are due to melanoma and 31,000 of which are due to non-melanoma skin cancers. [74] This is up from 51,000 in 1990. [74] More than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States, which makes it the most common form of cancer in that country.
Pseudomelanoma (also known as a "recurrent melanocytic nevus", [1] and "recurrent nevus" [2]) is a cutaneous condition in which melanotic skin lesions clinically resemble a superficial spreading melanoma at the site of a recent shave removal of a melanocytic nevus.