Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dysplastic (Atypical) Nevi

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Melanocytic Lesions

  • 909 Accesses

Abstract

Dysplastic nevi or atypical lentiginous nevi are clinically atypical and have histologic architectural disorder and cytologic atypia. The significance of atypical nevi was emphasized by reports of atypical moles in family members with hereditary melanoma. The genetic change, mutations in the CDKN2A gene, results in a predisposition in certain patient in the development of malignant melanoma. Within members of familial melanomas, the presence of atypical nevi is associated with a 50 % risk of developing melanoma by age 50 years. Therefore, dysplastic nevi are significant in that they can be mimics of melanoma histologically, precursors to melanoma, and indicators of increased melanoma risk. In this chapter, the various features necessary to render the diagnosis of dysplastic nevus as well as the grading of these lesions are outlined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmed I, Piepkorn MW, Rabkin MS, Meyer LJ, Feldkamp M, Goldgar DE, et al. Histopathologic characteristics of dysplastic nevi. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990;22(5Pt1):727–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnhill RL. Current status of the dysplastic melanocytic nevus. J Cutan Pathol. 1991;18(3):147–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnhill RL, Roush GC. Histopathologic spectrum of clinically atypical melanocytic nevi. II. Studies of nonfamilial melanoma. Arch Dermatol. 1990;126(10):1315–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnhill RL, Roush GC, Duray PH. Correlation of histologic architectural and cytoplasmic features with nuclear atypia in atypical (dysplastic) nevomelanocytic nevi. Hum Pathol. 1990;21(1):51–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Black WC, Hunt WC. Histologic correlations with the clinical diagnosis of dysplastic nevus. Am J Surg Pathol. 1990;14(1):44–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon-Albright LA, Goldgar DE, Meyer LJ, Lewis CM, Anderson DE, Fountain JW, et al. Assignment of a locus for familial melanoma, MLM, to chromosome 9p13-p22. Science. 1992;258(5085):1148–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clark Jr WH, Reimer RR, Greene M, Ainsworth AM, Mastrangelo MJ. Origin of familial malignant melanomas from heritable melanocytic lesions. ‘The B-K mole syndrome’. Arch Dermatol. 1978;114(5):732–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clemente C, Cochran AJ, Elder DE, Levene A, MacKie RM, Mihm MC, et al. Histopathologic diagnosis of dysplastic nevi: concordance among pathologists convened by the World Health Organization Melanoma Programme. Hum Pathol. 1991;22:313–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crutcher WA, Sagebiel RW. Prevalence of dysplastic naevi in a community practice (letter). Lancet. 1984;1(8379):729.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan LM, Berwick M, Bruijn JA, Byers R, Mihm MC, Barnhill RL. Histopathologic recognition and grading of dysplastic melanocytic nevi: an interobserver agreement study. J Invest Dermatol. 1993;100(3):318S–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elder DE. The dysplastic nevus. Pathology. 1985;17(2):291–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elder DE. Dysplastic nevi: an update. Histopathology. 2010;56:112–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elder DE, Goldman LI, Goldman SC, Greene MH, Clark Jr WH. Dysplastic nevus syndrome. A phenotypic association of sporadic cutaneous melanoma. Cancer. 1980;46(8):1787–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frichot III BC, Lynch HT, Guirgis HA, Harris RE, Lynch JF. New cutaneous phenotype in familial malignant melanoma. Lancet. 1977;1(8016):864–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greene MH, Clark Jr WH, Tucker MA, Elder DE, Kraemer KH, Fraser MC, et al. Precursor naevi in cutaneous malignant melanoma: a proposed nomenclature [letter]. Lancet. 1980;2(8202):1024.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hastrup N, Clemmenson OJ, Spaun E, Sondergaard K. Dysplastic naevus: histopathologic criteria and their inter-observer reproducibility. Histopathology. 1994;24(6):503–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knoell KA, Hendrix JD, Patterson JW, McHargue CA, Wilson BB, Greer KE. Nonpigmented dysplastic melanocytic nevi. Arch Dermatol. 1997;133(8):992–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Angelini S, Snellman E, Hemminki K. BRAF mutations are common somatic events in melanocytic nevi. J Invest Dermatol. 2004;122:342–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch HT, Frichot III BC, Lynch JF. Familial atypical multiple mole-melanoma syndrome. J Med Genet. 1978;15(5):352–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nordlund JJ, Kirkwood J, Forget BM, Scheibner A, Albert DM, Lerner E, et al. Demographic study of clinically atypical (dysplastic) nevi in patients with melanoma and comparison subjects. Cancer Res. 1985;45(4):1855–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norris W. Case of fungoid disease. EMSJ. 1820;16:562–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papp T, Schipper H, Kumar K, Schiffmann D, Zimmermann R. Mutational analysis of the BRAF gene in human congenital and dysplastic melanocytic naevi. Melanoma Res. 2005;15:401–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piepkorn M, Barnhill RL, Cannon-Albright LA, Elder DE, Goldgar DE, Lewis CM, et al. A multiobserver, population-based analysis of histologic dysplasia in melanocytic nevi. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;30(5 Pt 1):707–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock PM, Harper UL, Hansen KS, Yudt LM, Stark M, Robbins CM, et al. High frequency of BRAF mutations in nevi. Nat Genet. 2003;33(1):19–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poynter JN, Elder JT, Fullen DR, Nair RP, Soengas MS, Johnson TM, et al. BRAF and NRAS mutations in melanoma and melanocytic nevi. Melanoma Res. 2006;16(4):267–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pozo L, Naase M, Cerio R, Blanes A, Diaz-Cano SJ. Critical analysis of histologic criteria for grading atypical (dysplastic) melanocytic nevi. Am J Clin Pathol. 2001;115(2):177–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimer RR, Clark Jr WH, Greene MH, Ainsworth AM, Fraumeni Jr JF. Precursor lesions in familial melanoma. A new genetic preneoplastic syndrome. JAMA. 1978;239:746–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes AR, Mihm Jr MC, Weinstock MA. Dysplastic melanocytic nevi: a reproducible histologic definition emphasizing cellular morphology. Mod Pathol. 1989;2(4):206–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigel DS, Rivers JK, Friedman RJ, Kopf AW. Risk gradient for malignant melanoma in individuals with dysplastic naevi. Lancet. 1988;1(8581):352–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rigel DS, Rivers JK, Kopf AW, Friedman RJ, Vinokur AF, Heilman ER, et al. Dysplastic nevi. Markers for increased risk for melanoma. Cancer. 1989;63(2):386–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rivers JK, Cockerell CJ, McBride A, Kopf AW. Quantification of histologic features of dysplastic nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1990;12(1):42–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth ME, Grant-Kels JM, Ackerman AB, Elder DE, Friedman RJ, Heilman ER, et al. The histopathology of dysplastic nevi. Am J Dermatopathol. 1991;13(1):38–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roush GC, Barnhill RL, Duray PH, Titus LF, Ernstoff MS, Kirkwood JM. Diagnosis of dysplastic nevus in different populations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986;14(3):419–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saldanha G, Purnell D, Fletcher A, Potter L, Gillies A, Pringle JH. High BRAF mutation frequency does not characterize all melanocytic tumor types. Int J Cancer. 2004;111:705–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shea CR, Vollmer RT, Prieto VG. Correlating architectural disorder and cytologic atypia in Clark (dysplastic) melanocytic nevi. Hum Pathol. 1999;30(5):500–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slade J, Marghoob AA, Salopek TG, Rigel DS, Kopf AW, Bart RS. Atypical mole syndrome: risk factor for cutaneous malignant melanoma and implications for management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;32(3):479–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steijlen PM, Bergman W, Herman J, Schefer E, Van Vloten WV, Ruitter DJ. The efficacy of histopathological criteria required for diagnosing dysplastic naevi. Histopathology. 1988;12:289–300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tripp JM, Kopf AW, Marghoob AA, Bart RS. Management of dysplastic nevi: a survey of fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;46(5):674–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker MA, Fraser MC, Goldstein SC, Elder DE, Guerry 4th D, Organic SM. Risk of melanoma and other cancers in melanoma-prone families. J Invest Dermatol. 1993;100(3):350S–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wachsmuth RC, Harland M, Bishop JA. The atypical-mole syndrome and predisposition to melanoma. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(5):348–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Mai P. Hoang MD & Martin C. Mihm Jr. MD

  2. Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street Warren 820, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Mai P. Hoang MD

  3. Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Martin C. Mihm Jr. MD

  4. Melanoma Program, Dana Farber Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, 41 Louis Pasteur Avenue, Room 317B, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Martin C. Mihm Jr. MD

Authors
  1. Mai P. Hoang MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin C. Mihm Jr. MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mai P. Hoang MD or Martin C. Mihm Jr. MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Pathology Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Mai P. Hoang

  2. Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Deptartment of Pathology, Harvard Med School Melanoma Program in Dermatology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Martin C. Mihm Jr.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hoang, M.P., Mihm, M.C. (2014). Dysplastic (Atypical) Nevi. In: Hoang, M., Mihm Jr., M. (eds) Melanocytic Lesions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0891-2_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0891-2_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0890-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0891-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation