Biomaterial Database

Dysplastic melanocytic nevi and cutaneous melanoma: markers of increased melanoma risk for affected persons and blood relatives. 1990

L S Albert, and A R Rhodes, and A J Sober

Dermatology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Dysplastic melanocytic nevi are potential precursors of cutaneous melanoma and markers of increased risk. This article presents representative case histories that illustrate the usefulness of careful follow-up of persons who have dysplastic melanocytic nevi or cutaneous melanoma, as well as examination of their blood relatives for the same lesions. Identification and periodic examination of such high-risk persons may result in the detection of melanoma in a curable phase. Our observations suggest that (1) dysplastic melanocytic nevi may aggregate in families of persons who have dysplastic melanocytic nevi or melanoma, even in the absence of a family history of dysplastic melanocytic nevi or melanoma and (2) formal genetic and natural history studies of persons who have dysplastic melanocytic nevi outside the familial melanoma setting are warranted.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008545	Melanoma	A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445)	Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004416	Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome	Clinically atypical nevi (usually exceeding 5 mm in diameter and having variable pigmentation and ill defined borders) with an increased risk for development of non-familial cutaneous malignant melanoma. Biopsies show melanocytic dysplasia. Nevi are clinically and histologically identical to the precursor lesions for melanoma in the B-K mole syndrome. (Stedman, 25th ed)	B-K Mole Syndrome,Familial Atypical Multiple Mole-Melanoma,Nevus Syndrome, Dysplastic,Nevus, Dysplastic,Dysplastic Nevi,B K Mole Syndrome,Dysplastic Nevus,Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma,Nevi, Dysplastic,Syndrome, B-K Mole,Syndrome, Dysplastic Nevus
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults