MRF-Logo2019-Horizontal-RGB
Do normal moles (Non Atypical Moles) Have any risk?
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Do normal moles (Non Atypical Moles) Have any risk?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Do normal moles (Non Atypical Moles) Have any risk?

  • Post
    • June 23, 2016 at 8:17 pm
    UriahPH
    Participant
      I also hear that moderate or more cases highly Atypical moles carry a risk. What is the risk of Melanoma forming in a normal moles?
    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • June 24, 2016 at 1:02 am
        Janner
        Participant

          Could a normal mole turn into melanoma?  Extremely unlikely.  There are times where people who have had some major trauma and then had something change to melanoma.  But benign and mildly atypical moles really carry little risk.  Severely atypical moles carry the highest risk but no certainty that they will ever change. 

            • June 24, 2016 at 12:10 pm
            Scared99
            Participant

              Janner, on this subject how do dernatologists tell an atypical mole? I have several funny looking ones that don't have asymmetry, clear borders, and are various shades of the same brownish color.   These looked atypical but when they were biopsied they were normal moles with no atypia. 

              • June 24, 2016 at 2:40 pm
              Janner
              Participant

                They look at basically two things.  First is the cell structure itself.  They stain the melanocytes and look at the cell to see if it displays any abnormal features. Then they look at the architecture of the skin sample.  Are the melanocytes distributed normally?  Growing along dermal/epidermal junction?  Are there many immature cells or an abnormal number of cells?  Things along those lines.  So looking at the outward appearance doesn't really say anything about the cell structure and how the cells are distributed beneath the visible layer.  You can have normal looking cells but some atypical architecture and visa versa.  So the final determination on how atypical something may or may not be is a combination of cell atypia and architectural atypia.

                • June 24, 2016 at 2:40 pm
                Janner
                Participant

                  They look at basically two things.  First is the cell structure itself.  They stain the melanocytes and look at the cell to see if it displays any abnormal features. Then they look at the architecture of the skin sample.  Are the melanocytes distributed normally?  Growing along dermal/epidermal junction?  Are there many immature cells or an abnormal number of cells?  Things along those lines.  So looking at the outward appearance doesn't really say anything about the cell structure and how the cells are distributed beneath the visible layer.  You can have normal looking cells but some atypical architecture and visa versa.  So the final determination on how atypical something may or may not be is a combination of cell atypia and architectural atypia.

                  • June 24, 2016 at 2:40 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    They look at basically two things.  First is the cell structure itself.  They stain the melanocytes and look at the cell to see if it displays any abnormal features. Then they look at the architecture of the skin sample.  Are the melanocytes distributed normally?  Growing along dermal/epidermal junction?  Are there many immature cells or an abnormal number of cells?  Things along those lines.  So looking at the outward appearance doesn't really say anything about the cell structure and how the cells are distributed beneath the visible layer.  You can have normal looking cells but some atypical architecture and visa versa.  So the final determination on how atypical something may or may not be is a combination of cell atypia and architectural atypia.

                    • June 24, 2016 at 12:10 pm
                    Scared99
                    Participant

                      Janner, on this subject how do dernatologists tell an atypical mole? I have several funny looking ones that don't have asymmetry, clear borders, and are various shades of the same brownish color.   These looked atypical but when they were biopsied they were normal moles with no atypia. 

                      • June 24, 2016 at 12:10 pm
                      Scared99
                      Participant

                        Janner, on this subject how do dernatologists tell an atypical mole? I have several funny looking ones that don't have asymmetry, clear borders, and are various shades of the same brownish color.   These looked atypical but when they were biopsied they were normal moles with no atypia. 

                      • June 24, 2016 at 1:02 am
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Could a normal mole turn into melanoma?  Extremely unlikely.  There are times where people who have had some major trauma and then had something change to melanoma.  But benign and mildly atypical moles really carry little risk.  Severely atypical moles carry the highest risk but no certainty that they will ever change. 

                        • June 24, 2016 at 1:02 am
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Could a normal mole turn into melanoma?  Extremely unlikely.  There are times where people who have had some major trauma and then had something change to melanoma.  But benign and mildly atypical moles really carry little risk.  Severely atypical moles carry the highest risk but no certainty that they will ever change. 

                      Viewing 2 reply threads

                      Tagged: 

                      • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                      About the MRF Patient Forum

                      The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                      The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                      Popular Topics