What to do?

[woodeye518]

Doctor's: My wife had an 'elliptical exceision right chest', the diagnosis: 'Residual modereately atypical lentiginous and nested melanocytic proliferation most consistent with a typical / dysplastic nevus; focally the lesion extends to one lateral margin'. Just what does this mean now and down the road, normal periodic followup or shear panic! Thanks for your anticipated response. John

[Kamal S Saini, MD, MRCP (UK), DM]

Hi,

A nevus is a skin lesions commonly referred to as a "mole". An "atypical" or "dysplastic" nevus is a mole with some characteristics different from a normal or typical mole.

There is some risk that a dysplastic nevus may give rise to a melanoma. Although your wife has no need to panic, close surveillence is definitely warranted.

You may want to discuss with your dermatologist or surgeon if he/she would like to repeat the surgery to excise the remainder of the nevus as the pathology report has found one margin positive.

All the best, and God Bless!

[woodeye518]

Thasnk you!