External Medicine
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Nevi (Melanocytic, aka "Moles")
Overview
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Variable estimates but 20-50% of melanomas come from pre-existing nevi.
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Estimated yearly risk of nevus transforming to a melanoma <1 in 200,000 to 1 in 33,000, depending on demographics (lowest risk in men and women less than 40, highest in men over 60). (12622618)
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It appears that although people with higher nevus counts are more likely to develop melanoma (this is different than and in contrast with the majority of nevi occurring on patients with normal nevus counts), they tend to have better prognosis than melanomas developing in patients with normal nevus counts. This does not appear to be completely explained by increased surveillance in patients with more nevi. (25809795)
Facial Nevi
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On the face, nevi are only flat in children. New macular pigmented lesions in adults are extremely unlikely to be nevi. Even flat nevi in children are typically histopathologically compound. (from Dermoscopy Excellence)