New study on excision WLE?

My take is this isn't necessarily a replacement for a WLE because that has not been directly studied:

"While our study did not directly compare use of the wider margin to a narrower margin, the common practice of removing moles with narrow margins and performing a second 'clean-up' procedure suggests a need to move toward wider margins during the initial procedure," says Polsky.

However, for all those atypical moles that aren't melanoma but have some degree of atypia, this seems like a valid approach.  Remove enough the first time and you don't have to go back in later.  On those patients who have lots of atypical moles, this seems like a great solution. I might be a little more hesitant to only have 2mm margins if my lesion was melanoma but that's just me.                                                                                                                                                                           

This report is from one person and relative to biopsies of "suspicious looking moles"…not really specific to melanoma.  Per the article:  

"Polsky says if further data support the current findings, he hopes that other cancer centers will also adopt his "one and done" approach, and, if so, he will recommend changes to the next edition of practice guidelines issued by the American Academy of Dermatology."

Lots of "if's" and "hopes" in there!!!  I like real data about real melanoma – rather than if's and hopes that MIGHT – someday – be pertinent to REAL melanoma homies!!  celeste

I think the article is not talking about WLEs that occur after diagnosis, it is talking about the original biopsy and I 100% agree that for suspected melanoma a full surgical excision with 2mm margins is the way to go. I'm in Australia and the recommendation for initial biopsy of suspected melanoma is a surgical excision with 2mm margin – it's been this way for a long time. I've had mostly excisions, plus a few punches and shaves but I won't accept punches and shaves ever again. One punch biopsy showed a dysplastic nevus, incompletely excised, with recommendation for the 2mm excision. The 2mm excision showed superficial spreading melanoma in the remaining tiny portion.