Confused about diagnosis

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  • Post
    • May 12, 2015 at 10:51 pm
    Raoulduke212
    Participant

      I had a odd looking mole biopsied.  I only spoke to the nurse, but she told me the pathology came back as "Severely Atypical Lentiginous Junctional Melanocytic Proliferation."  She says it's not cancer but when I google this term, I get nothing but melanoma articles.  Can someone explain this to me?

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        • May 12, 2015 at 11:42 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          This is a severely atypical or dysplastic nevus.  It is NOT melanoma.  However, it should be treated with respect and removed with adequate margins (5mm – the same as melanoma in situ).  This may never have become melanoma, but severely atypical lesions have a higher risk of eventually turning into melanoma.  Since you've had one atypical mole, you should watch your other moles for CHANGE.  Anything changing should be shown to your derm.  Consider this a warning shot, but not a direct hit.

            • May 13, 2015 at 12:14 am
            Raoulduke212
            Participant

              Oh boy that's sobering.  Do you know what the increased risk of this turning into a melanoma is vs. a regular mole?

              • May 13, 2015 at 12:37 am
              Janner
              Participant

                There is no way to know that for certain.  Once they do a biopsy to determine the makeup, it's no longer there to monitor for change.  It would be a bit irresponsible to only do a partial biopsy and leave the rest in place to see what happens.  Basically, melanoma in situ has many of the same features, but an atypical nevus is just not atypical enough to be melanoma.  It's a matter of degrees and judgement by the pathologist.  Again, watch for CHANGE!  Take pictures if that helps.  

                • May 13, 2015 at 6:03 pm
                Raoulduke212
                Participant

                  I understand from what I've read on line that most of these atypical moles, even seriously atypical, usually do not become melanoma, is that acccurate?

                  • May 13, 2015 at 6:03 pm
                  Raoulduke212
                  Participant

                    I understand from what I've read on line that most of these atypical moles, even seriously atypical, usually do not become melanoma, is that acccurate?

                    • May 13, 2015 at 6:03 pm
                    Raoulduke212
                    Participant

                      I understand from what I've read on line that most of these atypical moles, even seriously atypical, usually do not become melanoma, is that acccurate?

                      • May 13, 2015 at 12:37 am
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        There is no way to know that for certain.  Once they do a biopsy to determine the makeup, it's no longer there to monitor for change.  It would be a bit irresponsible to only do a partial biopsy and leave the rest in place to see what happens.  Basically, melanoma in situ has many of the same features, but an atypical nevus is just not atypical enough to be melanoma.  It's a matter of degrees and judgement by the pathologist.  Again, watch for CHANGE!  Take pictures if that helps.  

                        • May 13, 2015 at 12:37 am
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          There is no way to know that for certain.  Once they do a biopsy to determine the makeup, it's no longer there to monitor for change.  It would be a bit irresponsible to only do a partial biopsy and leave the rest in place to see what happens.  Basically, melanoma in situ has many of the same features, but an atypical nevus is just not atypical enough to be melanoma.  It's a matter of degrees and judgement by the pathologist.  Again, watch for CHANGE!  Take pictures if that helps.  

                          • May 13, 2015 at 12:14 am
                          Raoulduke212
                          Participant

                            Oh boy that's sobering.  Do you know what the increased risk of this turning into a melanoma is vs. a regular mole?

                            • May 13, 2015 at 12:14 am
                            Raoulduke212
                            Participant

                              Oh boy that's sobering.  Do you know what the increased risk of this turning into a melanoma is vs. a regular mole?

                            • May 12, 2015 at 11:42 pm
                            Janner
                            Participant

                              This is a severely atypical or dysplastic nevus.  It is NOT melanoma.  However, it should be treated with respect and removed with adequate margins (5mm – the same as melanoma in situ).  This may never have become melanoma, but severely atypical lesions have a higher risk of eventually turning into melanoma.  Since you've had one atypical mole, you should watch your other moles for CHANGE.  Anything changing should be shown to your derm.  Consider this a warning shot, but not a direct hit.

                              • May 12, 2015 at 11:42 pm
                              Janner
                              Participant

                                This is a severely atypical or dysplastic nevus.  It is NOT melanoma.  However, it should be treated with respect and removed with adequate margins (5mm – the same as melanoma in situ).  This may never have become melanoma, but severely atypical lesions have a higher risk of eventually turning into melanoma.  Since you've had one atypical mole, you should watch your other moles for CHANGE.  Anything changing should be shown to your derm.  Consider this a warning shot, but not a direct hit.

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