 |
 |

Tumor Screening and Biology in Malignant Melanomas
 |
 |
| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings. |
|
 |
 |
We read with interest the recent article and editorial that emphasize the increasing incidence of thin malignant melanomas (MMs).1-2 Similar results have been reported in different institutions,2 and that is certainly our experience as well. The analysis of those data highlights interrelated aspects of public health (screening) and tumor biology.
Although nondysplastic nevi have been reported to confer a small (2-fold) risk, clinically atypical (dysplastic) melanocytic nevi (AMN) confer substantial MM risk (2-fold for 1 AMN; 12-fold for 10 AMN).3 Based on this, clinicians can identify a population at high risk of MM for screening and intervention. Except for heritable MM,4 AMNs seem to represent a risk marker rather than a true precancerous lesion,3 especially for low-grade AMNs (unpublished data, 1999). The other risk factors for MM such as intermittent sun exposure are, on the one hand, less susceptible to intervention and, on the other hand, not significantly associated with . . . [Full Text of this Article]
|