[Epidemiology of dysplastic nevus]

The dysplastic naevus is regarded as a precursor of malignant melanoma of the skin and has distinctive features that are apparent on clinical and particularly histological examination. Epidemiological studies on the incidence of dysplastic naevi in Europe have not yet been reported. A total number of 500 white males (median age: 19 years) have been examined. Macroscopically dysplastic naevi were detected in 2.2%. This result corresponds to reports from the United States of America and Australia.