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compound nevus with mild junctional atypia

compound nevus with mild junctional atypia

I have a small mole above my eyebrow that my dermatologist biopsied.  It came back  compound nevus with mild junctional atypia.  There was a note below the diagnosis that said "part of the atypia may be reactive, however, clinical follow up is recommended".  My dermatologist is sending me to a plastic surgeon to have it removed.  Is this necessary.  What are the chances this is cancerous or could become cancerous.  I am leary of having something cut off of my face if it is not necessary.
Tags: Melanoma
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I would recommend a second opinion by a dermatologist who specialty is skin cancer.

Read below, for what it is worth... research shows that
“Long Course Article

Modern Pathology (2006) 19, S4–S20. doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800515

Precursors to melanoma and their mimics: nevi of special sites

David E Elder1

1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Correspondence: Dr DE Elder, MD, ChB, FRCPA, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. E-mail: elder@mail:med.upenn.edu

Received 23 September 2005; Accepted 28 September 2005.

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Abstract
Melanocytic nevi, which are benign tumors of melanocytes, may have occasional cosmetic significance but, for the most part, they are important only in relation to melanoma. Nevi are the most important simulants of melanoma, both clinically and histologically, and can usually be reliably distinguished from melanomas using published criteria. Some lesions are characterized by greater degrees of atypia and may be more difficult to diagnose. Dysplastic nevi are among the most important simulants of melanoma. Nevi may also be important as potential precursors of melanoma; however, most nevi are stable and will not progress to malignancy. Nevi are vastly more common than melanomas and the rate of progression of individual lesions is very low. Therefore, nevi are not as a rule managed by wholesale excision to prevent melanoma. Nevi are also important as risk markers, identifying individuals at greater risk of developing melanoma in the future. Dysplastic nevi and, to a lesser extent, common acquired and congenital nevi are among the most important melanoma risk markers. Nevi of special sites have been identified as nevi that may show atypical features suggestive of a dysplastic nevus or of a melanoma. However, they are not risk markers and they are not malignancies. Nevi of genital skin, acral skin, and flexural skin are among the most important 'nevi of special sites'. It is important, in considering the differential diagnosis of a lesion in a special site, to avoid overcalling such a lesion as a melanoma or a dysplastic nevus because this could lead to excessive treatment. Conversely, it is important to avoid undercalling a lesion that is a dysplastic nevus or a melanoma as a nevus of special sites, because in this circumstance a patient could lose the opportunity either for surveillance to recognize a developing melanoma at an early, curable stage, or for definitive treatment of an established malignancy. In this monograph, dysplastic nevi and nevi of special sites are compared and contrasted in relation to melanoma.”
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