title: Dysplastic naevi in a population-based survey.
abstract: The prevalence of dysplastic naevi was studied in a population-based survey of 380 30 to 39-year-old and 50 to 59-year-old non-Maoris in Milton, a small town in the south of New Zealand. Photographs of all pigmented naevi greater than or equal to 4 mm in diameter were taken during the survey and subsequently evaluated by two experienced reviewers. Nine percent of the group (95% CI, 6%-13%) were judged to have one or more dysplastic naevi. Interobserver agreement over the diagnosis of dysplastic naevi was 85% (kappa = 0.55). Dysplastic naevi were associated with higher counts of moles greater than or equal to 2 mm in diameter; 50 or more such moles increased the likelihood of having three or more dysplastic naevi about 40-fold. Naevi judged to be dysplastic were, therefore, relatively common and were associated with increased numbers of common moles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009520:New Zealand