Prevalence of dysplastic nevi in healthy young men

Young white men (1176 men, mean age 20 years, age range from 18 to 26 years) were examined for dysplastic nevi. In 78 patients (6.63%), 107 clinically dysplastic nevi were observed, demonstrating all three NIH criteria (diameter greater than 5mm, irregularities of border, irregularities of color) suggestive for clinically dysplastic nevi. Of these, 71 nevi in 52 patients were excised and examined histologically, 46 nevi in 26 patients were not excised due to lack of patients' consent. Fifty-two of 78 (66.6%) patients with clinically dysplastic nevi agreed to excision. In these, seven nevi (13.5% of patients or 9.86% of all nevi excised) were confirmed by histology. According to these data, three additional patients with dysplastic nevi would have been expected among the 26 patients who refused surgery. Referring to the entire study group, the prevalence of dysplastic nevi in young white men is expected to be 0.85%.