The prevalence of dysplasia and associated factors in patients with atypical melanocytic nevus

Authors

  • Rana Rafiei Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Center, School of Medicine, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  • Niloofar Poorheravi Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Center, School of Medicine, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  • Kaveh Gharaei Nejad Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Center, School of Medicine, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4252-3021

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61882/jcbior.5.4.294

Keywords:

Dysplasia, Melanocytic navi, Malignancy

Abstract

Melanocytic nevi or moles, are benign proliferations of melanocytes that can appear anywhere on the skin. While most atypical melanocytic nevi are harmless, some may develop dysplastic changes. This cross-sectional study assessed the frequency of dysplasia and related factors in patients with atypical melanocytic nevi. Seventy-one patients clinically suspected of having atypical nevi underwent biopsy. Diagnoses were confirmed by a dermatologist, and histopathological assessments were performed by a pathologist. Demographic and clinical data, including lesion location, were documented. The mean patient age was 42.47 ± 15.27 years; 42 patients were female. Sixty-five cases (91.5%) were confirmed as melanocytic nevi, while 6 cases (8.5%) were non-melanocytic. Dysplasia was found in 2 female patients (3.1%). Lesion distribution was predominantly on the head and face (63.1%), followed by the trunk (26.2%). These findings indicate that most clinically suspected atypical melanocytic nevi are benign, with a low rate of dysplasia in this sample.

References

1. Frischhut N, Zelger B, Andre F, Zelger BG. The spectrum of melanocytic nevi and their clinical implications. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2022;20(4):483-504. DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14776

PMID: 35446494

2. Silva JH, Sá BC, Avila AL, Landman G, Duprat Neto JP. Atypical mole syndrome and dysplastic nevi: identification of populations at risk for developing melanoma - review article. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2011;66(3):493-9. DOI: 10.1590/s1807-59322011000300023 PMID: 21552679

3. Darjani A, Alizadeh N, Rafiei E, Moulaei M, Naseri Alavi SH, Eftekhari H, et al. Skin Diseases among the Old Age Residents in a Nursing Home: A Neglected Problem. Dermatol Res Pract. 2020;2020:8849355. DOI: 10.1155/2020/8849355

PMID: 33204253

4. Saeidian AH, Youssefian L, Naji M, Mahmoudi H, Barnada SM, Huang C, et al. Whole transcriptome-based skin virome profiling in typical epidermodysplasia verruciformis reveals α-, β-, and γ-HPV infections. JCI Insight. 2023;8(5):e162558.

DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.162558 PMID: 36602881

5. Eftekhari H, Joukar F, Faraji N, Hassanipour S, Esfandyari A, Naghipour M, et al. Awareness of Skin Cancer in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran Guilan Cohort Study Population. Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association. 2024;16(4):143-151. DOI: 10.1097/JDN.0000000000000800

6. Faraji N, Vahidnezhad H, Eslami N, Zeinali T, Shenagari M, Shanehbandi D, et al. Role of non-coding RNAs in human-papillomavirus-associated cutaneous neoplasms. Arch Virol. 2025;170(8):170. DOI: 10.1007/s00705-025-06335-0

PMID: 40581896

7. Darjani A, Homaei Rad E, Heshmat Ghahdarijani A, Gharaei Nejad K. Economic Burden of Skin Diseases among Hospitalized Patients in North of Iran. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal (IRCMJ). 2024;26(1):e208557.

DOI: 10.22034/ircmj.2024.469542.1331

8. Vahidnezhad H, Youssefian L, Saeidian AH, Uitto J, Vahidnezhad F, Saffarian Z, et al. P671: Whole-transcriptome-based skin virome profiling in typical epidermodysplasia verruciformis patients reveals infections with α-, β- and γ-HPVs. Genet Med Open. 2023;1(1, Supplement):100736.

DOI: 10.1016/j.gimo.2023.100736

9. Goldstein AM, Tucker MA. Dysplastic nevi and melanoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013;22(4):528-32.

DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-12-1346 PMID: 23549396

10. Shreberk-Hassidim R, Ostrowski SM, Fisher DE. The Complex Interplay between Nevi and Melanoma: Risk Factors and Precursors. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(4):3541.

DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043541 PMID: 36834954

11. Dessinioti C, Befon A, Stratigos AJ. The Association of Nevus-Associated Melanoma with Common or Dysplastic Melanocytic Nevus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(3):856. DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030856

PMID: 36765817

12. Huang JM, Chikeka I, Hornyak TJ. Melanocytic Nevi and the Genetic and Epigenetic Control of Oncogene-Induced Senescence. Dermatol Clin. 2017;35(1):85-93.

DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2016.08.001 PMID: 27890240

13. Alsayyah A. Differentiating between early melanomas and melanocytic nevi: A state-of-the-art review. Pathol Res Pract. 2023;249:154734. DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154734

PMID: 37573619

14. Kim CC, Swetter SM, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Grichnik JM, Grossman D, Halpern AC, et al. Addressing the knowledge gap in clinical recommendations for management and complete excision of clinically atypical nevi/dysplastic nevi: Pigmented Lesion Subcommittee consensus statement. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(2):212-8. DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.2694 PMID: 25409291

15. Kalloniati E, Cavouras D, Plachouri KM, Geropoulou E, Sakellaropoulos G, Georgiou S. Clinical, dermoscopic and histological assessment of melanocytic lesions: a comparative study of the accuracy of the diagnostic methods. Hippokratia. 2021;25(4):156-161. PMID: 36743868

16. Duffy K, Grossman D. The dysplastic nevus: from historical perspective to management in the modern era: part I. Historical, histologic, and clinical aspects. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(1):1.e1-16; quiz 17-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.02.047 PMID: 22703915

17. Reddy KK, Farber MJ, Bhawan J, Geronemus RG, Rogers GS. Atypical (dysplastic) nevi: outcomes of surgical excision and association with melanoma. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(8):928-34. DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.4440 PMID: 23760581

18. Grajdeanu IA, Vata D, Statescu L, Popescu IA, Porumb-Andrese E, Patrascu AI, et al. Use of imaging techniques for melanocytic naevi and basal cell carcinoma in integrative analysis (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2020;20(1):78-86. DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8620 PMID: 32508998

19. Darjani A, Alizadeh N, Gharaei Nejad K, Eftekhari H, Rafiei R, Shafaei Tonekaboni SS, et al. Epidemiology and Trends of Skin Cancers in Guilan Province, Iran During 2010-2014. JGUMS. 2021;29(4):154-165. URL: http://journal.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2294-en.html

20. Alizadeh N, Darjani A, Rafiei R, Gharaei Nejad K, Khoshhal Ziabari A, Eftekhari H. The Frequency of Skin Lesions in Guilan Province, Iran. Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association. 2024;16(3):99-104. DOI: 10.1097/JDN.0000000000000794

21. Katoulis AC, Sgouros D, Stavrianeas NG. Nevi (Benign Melanocytic). In: Katsambas AD, Lotti TM, Dessinioti C, D'Erme AM, editors. European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Cham: Springer; 2023. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_63

22. Avcı C, Akın G, Lebe B, Şahin MT, Fetil E. Can we manage the melanocytic lesions with peripheral globules according to the grade of dysplasia? Australas J Dermatol. 2024;65(4):358-368. DOI: 10.1111/ajd.14261 PMID: 38572867

23. Amirnia M, Ranjkesh M. Congenital melanocytic nevis in Dermatology Clinic of Sina Hospital in Tabriz. J Ardabil Univ Med Sci. 2008;8(2):127-131.

URL: http://jarums.arums.ac.ir/article-1-324-en.html

24. Erfan G, Demircioglu D, Erdemoglu Y, Ozturk Durmaz E, Sezer E, Sahin S. Demographic, clinical and dermoscopic features of melanocytic nevi on the scalp. Australas J Dermatol. 2021;62(3):354-359. DOI: 10.1111/ajd.13658 PMID: 34176119

25. Dessinioti C, Geller AC, Stergiopoulou A, Dimou N, Lo S, Keim U, et al. A multicentre study of naevus-associated melanoma vs. de novo melanoma, tumour thickness and body site differences. Br J Dermatol. 2021;185(1):101-109. DOI: 10.1111/bjd.19819 PMID: 33454993

26. Witt C, Krengel S. Clinical and epidemiological aspects of subtypes of melanocytic nevi (Flat nevi, Miescher nevi, Unna nevi). Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(1):1. PMID: 20137743

27. İyidal AY, Gül Ü, Kılıç A. Number and size of acquired melanocytic nevi and affecting risk factors in cases admitted to the dermatology clinic. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016;33(5):375-380. DOI: 10.5114/ada.2016.62845

PMID: 27881943

28. Whiteman DC, Brown RM, Purdie DM, Hughes MC. Prevalence and anatomical distribution of naevi in young Queensland children. Int J Cancer. 2003;106(6):930-3.

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.11293 PMID: 12918072

Published

2024-12-30

Issue

Section

Brief reports

How to Cite

The prevalence of dysplasia and associated factors in patients with atypical melanocytic nevus. (2024). Journal of Current Biomedical Reports, 5(4), 134-137. https://doi.org/10.61882/jcbior.5.4.294

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.