[Management of acquired nevus-cell nevi in clinical practice]

The alarming increase in the incidence of malignant melanoma and the lack of an effective therapy in metastasizing forms focussed the interest on the early curable stages and the precursors (or tumor markers) of malignant melanoma such as dysplastic nevi. Familial variants of dysplastic nevus syndrome (DNS) are associated with increased risk for malignant melanoma; the significance of sporadic dysplastic nevi, however, remains to be elucidated. Until more is known about which clinically dysplastic lesions, if any, can be left with complete safety, it is reasonable to remove all nevi which one cannot say are with certainty benign.