Is photography necessary in following up patients with dysplastic nevi?

Management of dysplastic nevi: a survey of fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology

BACKGROUND

Opinions concerning the significance of dysplastic nevi and their management vary among dermatologists.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess how fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) perceive and manage dysplastic nevi.

METHODS

Questionnaires were sent to 1216 fellows of the AAD; 456 questionnaires were returned.

RESULTS

Almost all respondents (98%) accept the dysplastic nevus, or atypical mole, as an entity. Seventy-five percent of respondents perform follow-up total cutaneous examinations on all their patients with dysplastic nevi, and another 22% on some of them; 86% usually intend to do total removals when they perform biopsies of dysplastic nevi; 75% use margins of 2 mm or less when removing dysplastic nevi; 49% order baseline total-cutaneous photographs of some or all of their patients with multiple dysplastic nevi, although only 12% do so routinely; 67% prefer to re-excise dysplastic nevi when margins are positive, some using histologic atypia as a criterion; 60% recommend an ophthalmologic examination for at least some of their patients with many dysplastic nevi, although only 3% do so routinely; 12% always recommend cutaneous examinations of blood relatives of their patients with dysplastic nevi and another 81% recommend such examinations for at least some of their patients with dysplastic nevi; 23% use dermoscopy; 99% recommend self-examination; almost 100% recommend sunscreen use and 93%, sun avoidance.

CONCLUSION

Most respondents, in agreement with the literature, accept the concept that patients with dysplastic nevi are at increased risk for melanoma and that methods for prevention and early detection of melanomas are appropriate for these patients.