Can dysplastic nevi look like melanoma?
Can dysplastic nevi look like melanoma?
Dysplastic nevi, also known as atypical moles, are unusual benign moles that may resemble melanoma. People who have them are at an increased risk of melanoma. The larger the number of atypical moles, the greater the risk.
How can you tell the difference between melanoma and dysplastic nevi?
Another important difference is that a common mole or dysplastic nevus will not return after it is removed by a full excisional biopsy from the skin, but melanoma sometimes grows back. Also, melanoma can spread to other parts of the body.
Do most dysplastic nevi turn into melanoma?
Yes — but most dysplastic nevi do not turn into melanoma. Most types of atypical moles remain stable over time. Patients with five or more dysplastic nevi are 10 times more likely to develop melanoma than individuals with no atypical moles.
What does a nevus mole look like?
A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. A dysplastic nevus is often large and does not have a round or oval shape or a distinct edge. It may have a mixture of pink, tan, or brown shades.
Can dysplastic nevi appear suddenly?
Moles, or nevi, typically form during childhood and adolescence, but new moles can appear in adulthood. Although most moles are noncancerous, or benign, the development of a new mole or sudden changes to existing moles in an adult can be a sign of melanoma.
What is a dysplastic nevus mole?
Dysplastic nevus/atypical mole seen under a microscope. (Photo credit wikimedia commons) Dysplastic nevi are atypical moles that may increase your risk of skin cancer. They vary in important ways from common moles. What are common moles? Common moles are small growths that appear on the skin.
What does a dysplastic nevi look like?
They tend to have uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges. These moles tend to be hereditary (passed on from parent to child through genes). People with dysplastic nevi may have more than 100 moles and have a greater chance of developing melanoma, a serious and concerning form of skin cancer.
What is the difference between a common mole and a nevus?
A common mole ( nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. A dysplastic nevus is often large and does not have a round or oval shape or a distinct edge.
Do I need to have a dysplastic nevus removed?
No. Normally, people do not need to have a dysplastic nevus or common mole removed. One reason is that very few dysplastic nevi or common moles turn into melanoma (1, 3).
