title: What Is the Best Method for Removing Biopsy-Proven Atypical Nevi? A Comparison of Margin Clearance Rates Between Reshave and Full-Thickness Surgical Excisions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is a common practice to biopsy clinically atypical nevi, which may signify an individual's increased risk of developing melanoma. There is no consensus in the current literature, however, as to what the best method is to manage biopsy-proven atypical nevi.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to compare margin clearance rates between reshave excision and full-thickness surgical excision performed to manage biopsy-proven atypical nevi.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective observational study, histopathology specimens from 201 patients whose atypical nevi were surgically removed were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the majority (76%-79%) of the atypical nevi studied, all atypical melanocytes were removed by the initial shave biopsy. Of those atypical nevi with positive margins, shave re-excision was shown to have a lower clearance rate (76.2%) when compared with surgical excision (87.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that in most cases, no residual atypical melanocytes are left after the initial shave biopsy. However, of the lesions where margins are not clear, full-thickness surgical excision may have a higher rate of success at eventual clearance than reshave excision.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; †Department of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; ‡Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Yen James
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*