Nevus counting as a risk factor for melanoma: comparison of self-count with count by physician.
BACKGROUND
The number of total body nevi is a major risk marker for malignant melanoma. No previous study has evaluated the accuracy of whole body large nevus (> or = 5 mm) self-counts.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the accuracy of large nevus self-counts by sex, age, educational level, body site, family history of skin cancer, and nevus characteristics.


METHODS
Self-counting of large nevi by 125 patients was compared with physician counting, with attention to nevus characteristics.


RESULTS
Overall, 79% of the self-counts agreed to within +/- 3 nevi of the physician's count. Analysis of variance revealed that the presence of nonpigmented or flat nevi significantly increased the chance of subject undercount, as did male sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-counts of large nevi are comparable to physician's counts and may be useful for melanoma screening.
Lawson
D D
DD
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco.
Moore
D H
DH
Schneider
J S
JS
Sagebiel
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010820:Physicians; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology