Risk of cutaneous melanoma by number of melanocytic nevi and correlation of nevi by anatomic site

Abstract

Studies of the etiology of melanoma have identified number of nondysplastic and clinically dysplastic melanocytic nevi (“atypical nevi”, hereafter called dysplastic nevi) as significant risk factors for melanoma [1–10], whether nevi were counted on the entire body or on the arms alone. Theoretically, a count of nevi on the entire body surface compared to a count of nevi on a specific anatomic site should have greater power to discriminate between populations at risk and those not at risk due to the higher number of nevi. However, few studies of total body nevus counts have been carried out, as they require trained clinicians, considerable time from subjects and observers and private examination space. The present analysis was conducted to determine whether nevi counted and recorded by anatomic site correlated with total body nevi counts, and to determine which body sites best correlated with total body counts. Sensitivity and specificity were examined to evaluate whether counts of nevi would be useful as a clinical screening tool for cutaneous melanoma.