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Moderate Atypical Nevi

Atypical Nevi are moles that have "funny features" not regularly associated with completely normal appearing moles. They are NOT cancers, but depending on the degree of atypia, the treatment varies. If viewed on a spectrum with a normal mole on the left end and a melanoma on the right end, the degree of atypia may vary from mild, moderate, or severe. Mild atypical nevi are benign and are best left alone. Moderate atypical nevi
are between a completely normal mole and a melanoma, but are NOT themselves a melanoma. Severe atypical nevi are close to behaving like melanomas.

The main types of atypical nevi are:

1.    Mild Atypical Nevi - very close to a completely normal mole
2.    Moderated Atypical Nevi - in the middle between normal and malignant, but NOT malignant
3.    Severe Atypical Nevi - very close to a melanoma, but not yet a melanoma


You have a type of:
_____ Mild Atypical Nevus                      Location:
_____ Moderate Atypical Nevus
_____ Severe Atypical Nevus


Your treatment options include the following:

Mild Atypical Nevus:  watch to see if the lesion returns

Moderate Atypical Nevus:
- surgery, removing the nevus with some normal skin to ensure that it's all out; there will be a scar and discoloration; the scar may stretch over time
-watching for recurrence and doing nothing - the risk is that the lesion may or may not return, and may require surgery in the future with risk of progression, increased scarring, disfigurement, or death.

**there are no studies or percentages to predict whether or not these nevi will ever turn into a melanoma

Severe Atypical Nevus:
- surgery, removing the nevus with some normal skin to ensure that it's all out; there will be a scar and discoloration; the scar may stretch over time
-watching for recurrence and doing nothing - the risk is that the lesion may or may not return, and may require surgery in the future with risk of progression, increased scarring, disfigurement, or death.
**there are no studies or percentages to predict whether or not these nevi will ever turn into a true melanoma, but the risk is enough to only recommend surgery for all these severe atypical nevi

You have a moderate atypical nevus. You must decide whether or not to remove it by surgery or watch it.

YOU MUST CALL US WITH YOUR DECISION AT 310.385.3300 AND CONFIRM WITH A MEDICAL ASSISTANT.

The decision is YOURS and yours alone. Please call us with your decision. This first letter was made in an attempt to save you an extra office visit to discuss your options. You will also need to continue having general skin examinations with a dermatologist every 6-12 months and do a monthly self-examination of your moles.

Don Mehrabi MD, FAAD
Dermatologist, Certified by the American Board of Dermatology
Los Angeles, California

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