Compound Nevus with MODERATE ATYPIA??

My 4 year old had a mole removed and the path report came back stating:  compound melanocytic dysplastic nevus with moderate atypia.  Is this serious?  She has to have more surgery to remove the remainder of margins.  I am so worried.  Any advice or info???  Thanks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I can understand your concern for these biopsy reports because dysplastic nevus with atypia is not normal. Dysplastic means abnormal development or growth of cells. Many doctors believe that the dysplastic nevi has the tendency to turn into cancer, however there is also the other group of doctors which believe that this is not true. As per my opinion any mole which is looking different from other moles on the body and which is growing irregularly and out of shape and size needs to be surgically removed and sent for biopsy in order to make a certain diagnosis and to rule out other serious diseases.
So please get the margins removed.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.