title: Management of small and intermediate congenital nevi: a nationwide survey in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Small- and intermediate-sized congenital nevi (SCN and ICN) undergo periodic clinical monitoring or surgical excision. We analyzed the management of SCN and ICN in the Italian hospital network.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide survey of a representative sample of centers was conducted. Data were analyzed grouping centers by melanoma incidence into high-volume (>25 diagnoses per year) and low-volume (≤ 25 diagnoses per year).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the pediatric population, 11% of SCN and 22% of ICN are excised, the remainder undergoing clinical monitoring at intervals of 6 months to 2 years (SCN) and of 6 months to 1 year (ICN). In adults, 24% of SCN and 41% of ICN are excised. Clinical monitoring of SCN varies from 6-monthly (most common among low-volume hospitals) to every 2 years; preferred strategies for ICN are follow-up at 1 year (51%) or follow-up at 6 months (42%). For prophylactic surgery, complete excision is preferred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Italian hospital network values management and treatment of SCN and ICN. In most cases natural evolution prompts prophylactic excision. Clinical examination is an important monitoring tool, though follow-up frequency depends on the clinician's experience and practice.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, IRCCS IRST, Meldola, Italy.
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanganelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ascierto
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pimpinelli
authors.forename: Vanna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiarion-Sileni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pizzichetta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Testori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006306:Health Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*