Is a Punch Biopsy Enough for a Dysplastic Nervus with Moderate Atypia?

asked 5 months ago by Cat111
Latest answer by Gary Goldenberg, MD
Question viewed 252 times
Tags: punch excision

I had a punch biopsy done to remove a mole from my leg. The diagnosis was: "lentiginous junctional dysplastic nervus with moderate atypia, focally extending to the peripheral specimen margin". The doctor told me that the result is completely normal and that I don't need to have anything else done. Is is true that no other surgical excision is needed? Thank you very much.

7 answers to Is a Punch Biopsy Enough for a Dysplastic Nervus with Moderate Atypia?

Dysplastic nevus with moderate atypia

Moderately dysplastic nevi (moles) should be excised. If the margins were clear, the punch biopsy would have been enough. But since the lesion extends to the margins, a simple re-excision should be performed.

Gary Goldenberg, MD
New York Dermatologist

Mole excision

While this is benign pathology there is a description of atypical cells. Rexcision to obtain clear margins would be recommended to be safe. Ongoing monitoring of moles is advised.

Philip Solomon, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Treatment of Dysplastic Nevus with Moderate Atypia

In my practice, I routinely excise (cutting with sutures) a lesion (or the biopsy site of where the lesion was sampled) that histologically displays "moderate atypia" and "extends to the peripheral specimen margin." The excision should be conservative as to spare healthy tissue but adequate so as to achieve clear margins. Once a patient has a "dysplastic" or "atypical" mole, I recommend full body skin exams twice yearly (every 6 months). At... more

Channing R. Barnett, MD
New York Dermatologist

Dysplastic Nevus with Atypia

Although biologically benign, most doctors agree that it is best to remove dysplastic nevi. A punch biopsy is only used for diagnosis but not treatement unless the lesion is so tiny that it is completely removed with the punch and does not come to the margin.

Jacob Freiman, MD
Miami Beach Plastic Surgeon

Excise Moderately Atypical Moles

We routinely excise nevi with moderate or severe atypia in our practice until there are clear margins. If we get a report back that states the lesion goes to the edge of the specimen, we would re-excise it.

Lawrence A. Osman, MD
Woodland Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Moderately atypical moles should be completely excised

In our office, we will do an excision with suture closure to get clear margins for all moles that have moderate to severe atypia. As your growth was found to extend to the peripheral margin, there is still some of the mole remaining that needs to be removed. These are considered to be precancerous growths and conservative treatment is wise. We also follow all of our "atypical mole" patients by doing full skin examinations every six months. I recommend you see a board certified... more

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

Mole with Moderate Atypia

This is somewhat in a gray area and opinions will vary among dermatologists. While all dermatologists would agree that a mole described as severely atypical warrants a total excision, therapeutic strategies regarding those interpreted as being moderately atypical varies. I personally will re-excise a nevus which has been called moderately atypical. The procedure is simple and has low morbidity. If there is a family history of melanoma, the reasons for excision become even more... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

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