Number of Moles Not Always Related to Likelihood of Melanoma

Source: Cancer Netowrk Journal, March 2016

The number of moles, or nevi, a patient had was not related to the likelihood that they had melanoma, according to the results of a new study published in JAMA Dermatology. In fact, the study found that most patients with melanoma had very few nevi and no atypical nevi.

“Having many total nevi [TN] or any atypical nevi [AN] is often reported to be a major risk factor for melanoma by public advocacy organizations However, it appears from the present large case series that many patients with melanoma do not routinely have an increased mole count or AN,” wrote researcher Alan C. Geller, MPH, RN, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and colleagues.

Based on these results, the researchers wrote that “physicians and patients should not rely on the total nevus count as a sole reason to perform skin examinations or to determine a patient’s at-risk status.”