A compound nevus is
a non-cancerous type of growth
made up of melanocytes. Compound nevi are usually seen in individuals of lighter skin complexion and can be found anywhere on the body.
What does it mean to have a compound nevus?
Listen to pronunciation. (KOM-pownd NEE-vus)
A type of mole formed by groups of nevus cells
Is a compound nevus benign or malignant?
Compound naevi are
benign lesions
. They do not cause complications and they have an excellent prognosis.
Is a compound melanocytic nevus benign?
Typically they are light tan to dark brown, dome shaped papules that are 1-10 mm in diameter. Compound Nevi are
benign proliferations of melanocytes at
the epidermal-dermal junction.
What is compound nevus with architectural disorder?
The architectural disorder includes asymmetry, subepidermal fibroplasia, and a distorted rete ridge pattern with bridging between adjacent rete rides (see the image below). Compound lesions have
extension
of the junctional component beyond the dermal nests of melanocytes, referred to as shouldering.
Does compound nevus grow?
Compound nevi become elevated and usually are more pale. Junctional nevi will typically
grow to be 3 or 4 mm across
, stop growing sideways, and begin to evolve into a compound nevus. This evolution continues through the compound nevus stage to the dermal nevus stage.
Can compound nevus turn into melanoma?
Yes — but
most dysplastic nevi do not turn into melanoma
. Most types of atypical moles remain stable over time. Patients with five or more dysplastic nevi are 10 times more likely to develop melanoma than individuals with no atypical moles.
What is atypical compound melanocytic nevus?
INTRODUCTION. Atypical nevi, also known as dysplastic nevi, are
benign acquired melanocytic neoplasms
. Atypical nevi share some of the clinical features of melanoma, such as asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple colors, and diameter >5 mm (picture 1A). They occur sporadically or in a familial setting.
How do you remove a junctional nevus?
Small nevi can be removed by
simple surgical excision
. The nevus is cut out, and the adjacent skin stitched together leaving a small scar. Removal of a large congenital nevus, however, requires replacement of the affected skin.
Is a junctional nevus cancerous?
They occur at any site on the body and are regularly shaped, usually round or oval. They are most often uniform in colour and range in pigmentation from light to dark brown. They are usually <7 mm or so in diameter. They are benign lesions but have the potential to undergo transformation to
malignant melanoma
.
Does melanocytic mean melanoma?
Melanocytes: These are
the cells that can become melanoma
. They normally make a brown pigment called melanin, which gives the skin its tan or brown color. Melanin protects the deeper layers of the skin from some of the harmful effects of the sun.
What is junctional activity in melanoma?
Besides, the most important diagnostic criterion is the junctional activity of the tumor on histopathologic examination (junctional activity defined as
intraepithelial dissemination involves the presence of pigmented dendritic cells at the junction of the epithelium and lamina propria
).
What does nevus look like?
A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is
usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge
. A dysplastic nevus
Can you have melanoma for years and not know?
How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a
melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms
.
Do nevi grow?
Nevi grow
as your body grows
. A nevus that will grow to an adult size of 8 inches or more across is considered a giant nevus. On a newborn child, this means that a nevus that measures 2 inches across is considered a giant one.
What percentage of biopsied moles are cancerous?
Lab testing showed that more than 90 percent of biopsied moles were completely removed by using the single procedure, with
11 (7 percent)
diagnosed as melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer.
