Incompletely excised or lasered moles can grow back looking atypical. The key is to have the original specimen biopsy and if the pathology indicated benign nature of the lesion, then subsequent residual mole can be monitored.
Cancer after superficial mole removal?
I had a non-cancerous mole removed by laser. The mole was quite deep so not all of the mole was removed. What happens if the little bit of mole left under the surface of the skin becomes cancerous after some years? Is it possible for the cancer to go unnoticed? Will scar tissue from the laser removal some years earlier hide the cancer to me or the dermatologist?
3 answers to “Cancer after superficial mole removal?”
A: Hopefully a biopsy was done
A laser which would rid you of a mole, by definition is ablative. This would mean that there would not be any tissue to send to the pathologist. It is standard procedure to perform a small biopsy before the laser is used. You might check if that was done. Otherwise, the... more
A: No risk if malignancy potential ruled out during mole removal
This is a fantastic question. Unless you saw a dermatologist who was certain there was no malignant potential in this "mole" you had treated, you do stand to risk potential masking of a malignancy forming in the remaining cells. This is likely a low probability, but this is why dermatologists hardly... more
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1 post
20 Mar 2009
I had a squamous cell mole removed about 6 mos. ago. It seems to be returning. There is either scar tissue or a "red bubble" of skin and possibly some pigment on the edge. Also, it itches like crazy. My insurance will not cover until a full 6 mos. has passed. Could this be still maliginant? The dermatologist "cut" it off with a surgical "burn" tool....