positive margin on benign mole- opinion needed (maybe Janner or MichaelFL– or anyone!)

This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by Janner.

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- June 1, 2011 at 9:41 pm
- Quote
curious12
Participant
Hi – sorry this question is so silly.

My history- mm in-situ, family history, over 100 moles, 50+ removed (some mild, some moderate, some severe and some benign)

Had a bunch off recently and one was benign w/ a peripheral margin involved.

Derm underlined that part and wrote "observe"… I'm not one for observing, but I assume in this case, re-excising a benign mole would be extreme overkill?

I'm annoyed because it was totally excised (or so I thought) by a derm who specializes in surgery….

Hi – sorry this question is so silly.

My history- mm in-situ, family history, over 100 moles, 50+ removed (some mild, some moderate, some severe and some benign)

Had a bunch off recently and one was benign w/ a peripheral margin involved.

Derm underlined that part and wrote "observe"… I'm not one for observing, but I assume in this case, re-excising a benign mole would be extreme overkill?

I'm annoyed because it was totally excised (or so I thought) by a derm who specializes in surgery….

Wasn't sure if I should call dr to just check.

Thanks- best wishes to you all!!

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Replies

- - June 1, 2011 at 10:33 pm
  - Quote
  teach
  Participant
  I have a similary story to yours, and I would never re-excise a benign mole. Don't even know that it is worth "observing."
- - June 1, 2011 at 10:33 pm
  - Quote
  teach
  Participant
  I have a similary story to yours, and I would never re-excise a benign mole. Don't even know that it is worth "observing."
- - June 1, 2011 at 11:42 pm
  - Quote
  MichaelFL
  Participant
  Even the best of docs sometimes do not get all of a mole. At least it is benign.
  
  You may wish to just place a call and ask why peripheral margin involved was underlined and "observe" was written since it is benign.
  
  Best wishes,
  
  Michael
- - June 1, 2011 at 11:42 pm
  - Quote
  MichaelFL
  Participant
  Even the best of docs sometimes do not get all of a mole. At least it is benign.
  
  You may wish to just place a call and ask why peripheral margin involved was underlined and "observe" was written since it is benign.
  
  Best wishes,
  
  Michael
- - June 2, 2011 at 1:44 am
  - Quote
  Lauri England
  Participant
  I had a mole removed about 11 years ago and it was benign. 9 years later it grew back just as big as it was when I had it removed the 1st time. The 2nd time it was melanoma so I am not so sure about the overkill statement.
  - June 2, 2011 at 1:59 am
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    That's what the "observe" is for. I wouldn't worry about not having clean margins with a benign mole. However, if the mole grows back in the scar, it is probably best to have the whole thing removed. Lesions that grow back in scar tissue are much harder to diagnose – the scar tissue makes everything look more atypical (even if it really isn't). Any time you have pigment regrowth in a scar, it's always best to talk to the derm about it.
    
    Best wishes,
    
    Janner
  - June 2, 2011 at 1:59 am
    
    Quote
    Janner
    Participant
    
    That's what the "observe" is for. I wouldn't worry about not having clean margins with a benign mole. However, if the mole grows back in the scar, it is probably best to have the whole thing removed. Lesions that grow back in scar tissue are much harder to diagnose – the scar tissue makes everything look more atypical (even if it really isn't). Any time you have pigment regrowth in a scar, it's always best to talk to the derm about it.
    
    Best wishes,
    
    Janner
- - June 2, 2011 at 1:44 am
  - Quote
  Lauri England
  Participant
  I had a mole removed about 11 years ago and it was benign. 9 years later it grew back just as big as it was when I had it removed the 1st time. The 2nd time it was melanoma so I am not so sure about the overkill statement.