Atypical Mole (Dysplastic Nevus) Syndrome

Simranjeet Kaur, MD and Sahil Mullick, MD Reviewed 06/2019

BASICS

Atypical mole syndrome (AMS), also known as dysplastic nevi syndrome (DNS), B-K mole syndrome, Clark nevi syndrome, or familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome, is a condition ...

DIAGNOSIS

AMS is a clinical diagnosis with various classifications schemes proposed. Although not widely accepted, diagnostic criteria, as defined by the NIH, require the three features of (i) maligna...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

No medications have been shown to treat AMS (6)[C].

ISSUES FOR REFERRAL

Dermatologist for routine skin exam for those patients at high risk for melanoma
Ophthalmologic exams for ocul...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Close follow-up with a dermatologist or other physician experienced with assessment of atypical nevi:

Total body skin exam (including nails, scalp, genital area, ...

REFERENCES

Goldsmith LA, Askin FB, Chang AE, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of early melanoma: NIH consensus development panel on early melanoma. JAMA. 1992;268(10):1314–1319. [View Abstract on...

ADDITIONAL READING

Csoma Z, Tóth-Molnár E, Balogh K, et al. Neonatal blue light phototherapy and melanocytic nevi: a twin study. Pediatrics. 2011;128(4):e856–e864. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
...

CODES

ICD10

D22.9 Melanocytic nevi, unspecified
D22.4 Melanocytic nevi of scalp and neck
D22.30 Melanocytic nevi of unspecified part of face
D22.5 Melanocytic nevi of trunk
D22.70 Melanocytic nevi of unspe...

CLINICAL PEARLS

In describing nevi, “atypical” is a clinical term, whereas “dysplastic” is a histologic term.
Melanoma in AMS tends to arise from healthy skin despite a large number of atypical nevi.
~2...

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