What Are The Chances Of Melanoma After Removing Atypical Moles?

Posted on Tue, 17 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 5 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : HI,

I know I keep asking the same questions to doctors but I feel so anxious sometimes I need someone to explain things to be again. Over the last two years o have had four MODERATELY aytipical moles removed and excised. I only have about twenty moles on mybody. The moderately aytipical moles were tiny now I spend my says worrying about getting melanoma. I'd like to know how many people get melanoma after having moderately aytipical moles please. what are my risks?please help.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (54 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dysplastic nevi and risk of melanoma

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.

I have taken note of your query and I will try to answer to the best of my capability.

The risk of melanoma is more in those who have large number of atypical nevi i.e those who have a just few dysplastic nevi have less risk.
However, In those who have numerous dysplastic nevi/ dysplastic nevi syndrome, there the lifetime risk of melanoma is more than 10%.
Not all atypical nevi go on to develop melanoma and it is not necessary to remove every dysplastic nevus.
Therefore, presence of dysplastic nevi makes it imperative that you monitor for any suspicious changes. It is not a rule that every dysplastic nevi would turn into melanoma.
In fact most dysplastic nevi never turn into cancer and melanomas may also arise without a pre-existing dysplastic nevus.
Not just dysplastic nevi but there are other factor implicated in development of a melanoma like life time cummulative sun exposure, family history of melanoma, those who have fair skin, freckling and light hair.

Therefore, I can't tell you the exact risk that may arise from having dysplastic nevi because even if a person with melanoma has a risk factor it is very hard to know how much that risk factor might have contributed to the cancer.

Regards
Hope this helps!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (16 minutes later)

Thanks for being kind. I have brown hair,no family with melanoma, have had four tiny moderately aytipical moles so far. I'm 38 and yes I have been burnt in the past. Does this help at all? do you see many people with moderate aytipical?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dysplastic nevi are fairly easy to diagnose; I stress upon self examination

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for the details. That is helpful.

I stress upon regular sunscreen use, specially outdoors.
You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen, that which offers both UV B as well as UV A protection. Reapply every 2-3 hours.
The recommended quantity of a sunscreen is approximately 3 ml Or 1/2 teaspoon for face and neck, 3 ml for each arm.

I also stress on monthly self examination.
An atypical mole is usually larger than 5 mm Or has recently increased in size, is not perfectly round / symmetrical, has indistinct margins, has various shades of color and had flat as well as bumpy components.
A frankly atypical mole should have at least 3 of these features.

Though we don't see a lot of patients with dysplastic nevi in XXXXXXX but we do get to see a few. XXXXXXX skin inherently has a lot of melanin and it is not very common to see dysplastic nevi Or melanoma in our patients.
Nevertheless, It is fairly easy to diagnose atypical moles/ nevi based on the features I mentioned above and I stress upon monthly self examination.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad