Melanocytic nevus

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Melanocytic nevus
Classification and external resources
Skin Tumors-171.jpg
Lentiginous melanocytic naevus
ICD-10 D22
ICD-9 216
DiseasesDB 8333
eMedicine derm/289
MeSH D009508

A melanocytic nevus (also known as "nevocytic nevus"[1]) is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells (a type of melanocyte).[2] Some sources equate the term mole with "melanocytic nevus".[3] Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes.[4]

The majority of moles appear during the first two decades of a person's life, with about one in every 100 babies being born with moles.[5] Acquired moles are a form of benign neoplasm, while congenital moles, or congenital nevi, are considered a minor malformation or hamartoma and may be at a higher risk for melanoma.[5] A mole can be either subdermal (under the skin) or a pigmented growth on the skin, formed mostly of a type of cell known as a melanocyte. The high concentration of the body's pigmenting agent, melanin, is responsible for their dark color. Moles are a member of the family of skin lesions known as nevi.


Some sources equate the term mole with "melanocytic nevus". Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes such as the animal of the same name. Melanocytic nevi represent a family of lesions. The most common variants are:

  • Location:
    • Junctional nevus: the nevus cells are located along the junction of the epithelium and the underlying dermis. A junctional nevus is flat and brown to black.
    • Compound nevus: a mixture of junctional and intradermal proliferation. Compound nevi are slightly raised and brown to black. Beauty marks are usually compound nevi of either the acquired variety or congenital variety.
    • Intradermal nevus: the nevus cells are located in the dermis only. Intradermal nevi are raised; most are flesh-colored (not pigmented).
  • Dysplastic nevus (nevus of Clark): usually a compound nevus with cellular and architectural dysplasia. Like typical moles, dysplastic nevi can be flat or raised. While they vary in size, dysplastic nevi are typically larger than normal moles and tend to have irregular borders and irregular coloration. Hence, they resemble melanoma, appear worrisome, and are often removed to clarify the diagnosis. Dysplastic nevi are markers of risk when they are numerous (atypical mole syndrome). According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH), doctors believe that, when part of a series or syndrome of multiple moles, dysplastic nevi are more likely than ordinary moles to develop into the most virulent type of skin cancer called melanoma.
  • Blue nevus: It is blue in color as its melanocytes are very deep in the skin. The nevus cells are spindle shaped and scattered in deep layers of the dermis. The covering epidermis is normal.
  • Spitz nevus: a distinct variant of intradermal nevus, usually in a child. They are raised and reddish (non-pigmented). A pigmented variant, called the 'nevus of Reed', typically appears on the leg of young women.
  • Acquired nevus: Any melanocytic nevus that is not a congenital nevus or not present at birth or near birth. This includes junctional, compound and intradermal nevus.
  • Congenital nevus: Small to large nevus present at or near time of birth. Small ones have low potential for forming melanomas, however the risk increases with size, as in the giant pigmented nevus.
  • Giant pigmented nevus: these large, pigmented, often hairy congenital nevi. They are important because melanoma may occasionally (10 to 15%) appear in them.
  • Intramucosal nevus: junctional nevus of the mucosa of the mouth or genital areas. In the mouth, they are found most frequently on the hard palate.
  • Nevus of Ito and nevus of Ota: congenital, flat brownish lesions on the face or shoulder.
  • Mongolian spot: congenital large, deep, bluish discoloration on the back of Asian babies.
  • Recurrent nevus: Any incompletely removed nevus with residual melanocytes left in the surgical wound. It creates a dilemma for the patient and physician, as these scars cannot be distinguished from a melanoma.

Signs and symptoms[edit]

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most common types of moles are skin tags, raised moles and flat moles. Benign moles are usually circular or oval and not very large, though some can be larger than the size of a typical pencil eraser. Some moles produce dark, coarse hair. Common mole hair removal procedures include plucking, cosmetic waxing, electrolysis, threading and cauterization.


Moles tend to appear during early childhood and during the first 30 years of life. They may change slowly, becoming raised, changing color or gradually fading.[6] The average person has 30-40 moles, with some having up to 600.[7]

The number of moles a person has was found to have a correlation with telomere length.[8] The length of telomeres may be of significance in the ageing process. But the relation between telomeres and aging remains uncertain.[9]


The cause is not clearly understood, but is thought to be caused by a defect in embryologic development. This is in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The defect is thought to cause a proliferation of melanocytes. This means melanocytes, the cells in your body in charge of normal skin color, are being produced at an extremely fast rate. This is causing the melanocytes to form in clusters instead of spread out, causing abnormal skin pigmentation in some areas of your body.


Genes can have an influence on a person's moles.

Dysplastic nevi and atypical mole syndrome are hereditary conditions which causes a person to have a large quantity of moles (often 100 or more) with some larger than normal or atypical. This often leads to a higher risk of melanoma, a serious skin cancer.[10] Dysplastic nevi are more likely than ordinary moles to become cancerous. Dysplastic nevi are common, and many people have a few of these abnormal moles. Having more than 50 ordinary moles increases the risk of developing melanoma.[11]

In the overall population, a slight majority of melanomas do not form in an existing mole, but rather create a new growth on the skin. Somewhat surprisingly, this also applies to those with dysplastic nevi. They are at a higher risk of melanoma occurring not only where there is an existing mole, but also where there are none.[12][13] Such persons need to be checked regularly for any changes in their moles and to note any new ones.


Ultraviolet light from the sun causes premature aging of the skin and skin damage that can lead to melanoma. Some scientists hypothesize that overexposure to UV, including excessive sunlight, may play a role in the formation of acquired moles.[14] However, more research is needed to determine the complex interaction between genetic makeup and overall exposure to ultraviolet light. Some strong indications that this is so (but falling short of proof), are:

  • The relative lack of moles on the buttocks of people with dysplastic nevi.
  • Freckles (spots of melanin on the skin, and distinct from moles) are known to be influenced by sunlight.

Studies have found that sunburns and too much time in the sun can increase the risk factors for melanoma. This is in addition to those who have dysplastic nevi being at higher risk of this cancer (the uncertainty is in regard to acquiring benign moles). To prevent and reduce the risk of melanoma caused by UV radiation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Cancer Institute recommends staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. standard time (or whenever one's shadow is shorter than one's height). The National Cancer Institute also recommends wearing long sleeves and trousers, hats with a wide brim, sunscreens, and sunglasses that have UV-deflecting lenses.[11]


Hormonal changes during pregnancy and diabetics (i.e. insulin) are often contributing to mole formation.


Clinical diagnosis can be made with the naked eye using the ABCD guideline or by using dermatoscopy. An online-screening test is also available to help screen out benign moles.

A modern polarized dermatoscope.

Differentiation from melanoma[edit]

It often requires a dermatologist to fully evaluate moles. For instance, a small blue or bluish black spot, often called a blue nevus, is usually benign but often mistaken for melanoma.[15] Conversely, a junctional nevus, which develops at the junction of the dermis and epidermis, is potentially cancerous.[16]

A basic reference chart used for consumers to spot suspicious moles is found in the mnemonic A-B-C-D, used by institutions such as the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Cancer Institute. The letters stand for asymmetry, border, color, and diameter.[5][17] Sometimes, the letter E (for elevation or evolving) is added. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, if a mole starts changing in size, color, shape or, especially, if the border of a mole develops ragged edges or becomes larger than a pencil eraser, it would be an appropriate time to consult with a physician. Other warning signs include a mole, even if smaller than a pencil eraser, that is different from the others and begins to crust over, bleed, itch, or become inflamed. The changes may indicate developing melanomas. The matter can become clinically complicated because mole removal depends on which types of cancer, if any, come into suspicion.

A recent and novel method of melanoma detection is the "ugly duckling sign"[18][19] It is simple, easy to teach, and highly effective in detecting melanoma. Simply, correlation of common characteristics of a person's skin lesion is made. Lesions which greatly deviate from the common characteristics are labeled as an "ugly duckling", and further professional exam is required. The "little red riding hood sign",[19] suggests that individuals with fair skin and light colored hair might have difficult-to-diagnose melanomas. Extra care and caution should be rendered when examining such individuals as they might have multiple melanomas and severely dysplastic nevi. A dermatoscope must be used to detect "ugly ducklings", as many melanomas in these individuals resemble non-melanomas or are considered to be "wolves in sheep clothing".[20] These fair skinned individuals often have lightly pigmented or amelanotic melanomas which will not present easy-to-observe color changes and variation in colors. The borders of these amelanotic melanomas are often indistinct, making visual identification without a dermatoscope very difficult.



Experts, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, say that vast majority of moles are benign.[5] Nonetheless, the U.S. National Cancer Institute estimated that 62,480 new cases of melanoma and 8,420 related deaths would appear in the United States in the year 2008.[21]

Data on the chances of transformation from melanocytic nevi to melanoma is controversial, but it appears that about 10% of malignant melanomas has a precursor lesion, of which about 10% is menanocytic nevi. Thus it appears that malignant melanoma quite seldomly (1% of cases) has a melanocytic nevi as a precursor.[22]


First, a diagnosis must be made. If the lesion is a seborrheic keratosis, then shave excision, electrodesiccation or cryosurgery may be performed, usually leaving very little if any scarring. If the lesion is suspected to be a skin cancer, a skin biopsy must be done first, before considering removal. This is unless an excisional biopsy is warranted. If the lesion is a melanocytic nevus, one has to decide if it is medically indicated or not.

If a melanocytic nevus is suspected of being a melanoma, it needs to be sampled or removed and sent for microscopic evaluation by a pathologist by a method called skin biopsy. One can do a complete excisional skin biopsy or a punch skin biopsy, depending on the size and location of the original nevus. Other reasons for removal may be cosmetic, or because a raised mole interferes with daily life (e.g. shaving). Removal can be by excisional biopsy or by shaving. A shaved site leaves a red mark on the site which returns to the patient’s usual skin color in about two weeks. However, there might still be a risk of spread of the melanoma, so the methods of Melanoma diagnosis, including excisional biopsy, are still recommended even in these instances. Additionally, moles can be removed by laser, surgery or electrocautery.

In properly trained hands, some medical lasers are used to remove flat moles level with the surface of the skin, as well as some raised moles. While laser treatment is commonly offered and may require several appointments, other dermatologists think lasers are not the best method for removing moles because the laser only cauterizes or, in certain cases, removes very superficial levels of skin. Moles tend to go deeper into the skin than non-invasive lasers can penetrate. After a laser treatment a scab is formed, which falls off about seven days later, in contrast to surgery, where the wound has to be sutured. A second concern about the laser treatment is that if the lesion is a melanoma, and was misdiagnosed as a benign mole, the procedure might delay diagnosis. If the mole is incompletely removed by the laser, and the pigmented lesion regrows, it might form a recurrent nevus.

Electrocautery is available as an alternative to laser cautery. Electrocautery is a procedure that uses a light electrical current to burn moles, skin tags, and warts off the skin. Electric currents are set to a level such that they only reach the outermost layers of the skin, thus reducing the problem of scarring. Approximately 1-3 treatments may be needed to completely remove a mole. Typically, a local anesthetic is applied to the treated skin area before beginning the mole removal procedure.[23]

For surgery, many dermatologic and plastic surgeons first use a freezing solution, usually liquid nitrogen, on a raised mole and then shave it away with a scalpel. If the surgeon opts for the shaving method, he or she usually also cauterizes the stump. Because a circle is difficult to close with stitches, the incision is usually elliptical or eye-shaped. However, freezing should not be done to a nevus suspected to be a melanoma, as the ice crystals can cause pathological changes called "freezing artifacts" which might interfere with the diagnosis of the melanoma.

Mole removal risks[edit]

Mole removal risks mainly depend on the type of mole removal method the patient undergoes. First, mole removal may be followed by some discomfort that can be relieved with pain medication. Second, there is a risk that a scab will form or that redness will occur. However, such scabs and redness usually heal within one or two weeks. Third, as in other surgeries, there is also risk of infection or an anesthetic allergy or even nerve damage. Lastly, the mole removal may imply an uncomfortable scar depending on the mole size.[24]


In the 1950s and 60s (and, to lesser extent, currently) a facial mole was known as a "beauty mark" when it appeared in certain spots on a woman's face. Examples include Marilyn Monroe, model Cindy Crawford, singer Madonna, and the fictional Ms. Pac-Man. Madonna's facial mole—below her right nostril—has been surgically removed. Some folklore about moles includes the notion that picking at a mole can cause it to become cancerous or grow back larger.

Society and culture[edit]

Abraham Lincoln famously had a mole on his right cheek

Throughout human history, individuals who have possessed facial moles have been subject to ridicule and attack based on superstition. Throughout most of history, facial moles were not considered objects of beauty on lovely faces. Rather most moles were considered hideous growths that appeared mostly on the noses, cheeks, and chins of witches, frogs and other low creatures.

Both folklore and modern popular culture use physical traits to denote a character's either good or evil tendencies. In contrast to the fine features and smooth skin of its heroes and heroines, characters who possess negative or evil characteristics have also been known to possess more rugged features and skin blemishes, including facial moles.

In Medieval Europe, among those accused of demonic possession, ecclesiastical edicts interpreted large warts and moles on the skin as physical signs of the entry point of the devil into the soul.[25]

In the 16th century, a popular pseudoscience was invented that supposedly described how every facial mole had a corresponding birthmark somewhere else on the body. Once you knew where both moles were, the theory went, you had the inside track on what made the person tick. For instance, if a man had a mole on the bridge of his nose, he supposedly had another on his right thigh. Taken together, the moles meant the owners were persons of good moods and would eventually receive healthy inheritances.[26]

Face mole reading[edit]

In traditional Chinese culture, facial moles are respected and they are used in moleomancy, or face mole reading. The moles' meaning varies according to which of the nine "wealth spots" of the face they are located in. Depending on their position and color, a person's facial moles may render their face "lucky" or "unlucky."

Moles that can be easily seen may be considered warnings or reminders, while hidden moles may symbolize good luck and fortune. Furthermore, traditional Chinese culture holds that each facial mole indicates the presence of a corresponding mole on another part of the body. For instance, if a mole is present around the mouth, a corresponding mole should be found in the pubic region.[27]

See also[edit]


  2. ^ "melanocytic nevus" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  3. ^ Howard M Reisner; Rubin, Emanuel (2008). Essentials of Rubin's Pathology (Rubin, Essential Pathology). Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 513. ISBN 0-7817-7324-5. 
  4. ^ "mole" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  5. ^ a b c d "Moles". American Academy of Dermatology. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ [2]
  8. ^ Bataille V, Kato BS, Falchi M, et al. (July 2007). "Nevus size and number are associated with telomere length and represent potential markers of a decreased senescence in vivo". Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 16 (7): 1499–502. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0152. PMID 17627017. 
  9. ^ Gomes NM, Ryder OA, Houck ML, et al. (October 2011). "Comparative biology of mammalian telomeres: hypotheses on ancestral states and the roles of telomeres in longevity determination". Aging Cell 10 (5): 761–8. doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2011.00718.x. PMC 3387546. PMID 21518243. 
  10. ^ Burkhart CG (2003). "Dysplastic nevus declassified: even the NIH recommends elimination of confusing terminology". Skinmed 2 (1): 12–3. doi:10.1111/j.1540-9740.2003.01724.x. PMID 14673319. 
  11. ^ a b "What You Need To Know About Melanoma - Melanoma: Who's at Risk?". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2008-05-18. 
  12. ^ Pope DJ, Sorahan T, Marsden JR, Ball PM, Grimley RP, Peck IM (1992). "Benign pigmented nevi in children. Prevalence and associated factors: the West Midlands, United Kingdom Mole Study". Arch Dermatol 128 (9): 1201–6. doi:10.1001/archderm.128.9.1201. PMID 1519934. 
  13. ^ Goldgar DE, Cannon-Albright LA, Meyer LJ, Piepkorn MW, Zone JJ, Skolnick MH (1991). "Inheritance of nevus number and size in melanoma and dysplastic nevus syndrome kindreds". J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 83 (23): 1726–33. doi:10.1093/jnci/83.23.1726. PMID 1770551. 
  14. ^ van Schanke A, van Venrooij GM, Jongsma MJ, et al. (2006). "Induction of nevi and skin tumors in Ink4a/Arf Xpa knockout mice by neonatal, intermittent, or chronic UVB exposures". Cancer Res. 66 (5): 2608–15. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2476. PMID 16510579. 
  16. ^ Hall J, Perry VE (1998). "Tinea nigra palmaris: differentiation from malignant melanoma or junctional nevi". Cutis 62 (1): 45–6. PMID 9675534. 
  17. ^ "What You Need To Know About Melanoma - Signs and Symptoms". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2008-05-18. 
  18. ^
  19. ^ a b Mascaro JM, Mascaro JM (November 1998). "The dermatologist's position concerning nevi: a vision ranging from 'the ugly duckling' to 'little red riding hood'". Archives of Dermatology 134 (11): 1484–5. PMID 9828892. 
  20. ^
  21. ^ "Melanoma Home Page". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2008-05-18. 
  22. ^ Fernandes NC (2013). "The risk of cutaneous melanoma in melanocytic nevi". Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia 88 (2): 314–5. doi:10.1590/S0365-05962013000200030. PMC 3750908. PMID 23739702. 
  23. ^ Habif, Thomas P. (1985). Clinical dermatology, a color guide to diagnosis and therapy. Mosby. ISBN 0-8016-2233-6. [page needed]
  24. ^ "Mole Removal". Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  25. ^ Encyclopedia of Criminology
  26. ^ Facial Moles in History.
  27. ^ "Chinese Face Reading - Facial Mole and Your Fate". Retrieved 2010-05-04. 

External links[edit]