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What Is The Common Margin To Remove A Mole?
Question: My wife went to a routine checkup of all her moles. They do that as a yearly campaign. The doctor looked with a dermathoscope and found one suspicious mole. Some info:
- The dr. said the mole "looked ok with the naked eye", but in the dermathoscope she could see that it was recommendable to remove. I got scared about this, as it sounds like "something dangerous hidden underneath the skin". But I read the melanoma grows from the outside...??
- The dr. removed it with a tool that was 6 millimeters in diameter. What would that mean for the size of the mole? What is a common margin for removal?
- I understand that all removed moles are sent of for pathology analysis, but this scares me so very much! I get afraid to get a scary response.
In general, I worry a lot about all things like these. And this is just the latest example. But at this point I need someone to convince me not to panic!
- The dr. said the mole "looked ok with the naked eye", but in the dermathoscope she could see that it was recommendable to remove. I got scared about this, as it sounds like "something dangerous hidden underneath the skin". But I read the melanoma grows from the outside...??
- The dr. removed it with a tool that was 6 millimeters in diameter. What would that mean for the size of the mole? What is a common margin for removal?
- I understand that all removed moles are sent of for pathology analysis, but this scares me so very much! I get afraid to get a scary response.
In general, I worry a lot about all things like these. And this is just the latest example. But at this point I need someone to convince me not to panic!
Brief Answer:
No reason to be afraid.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Here is the thing. Moles (all of them) are benign lesions. In rare cases, mole can become a melanoma. That is why, we do year checkup with dermatoscope. Dermatologist types potential moles which can become a melanoma in the future. Believe me, if it were melanoma, dermatologist would tell you that and send for the removal right away. Experienced dermatologist can determine which mole is a melanoma and which is just suspicious.
In simple words, your wife does not have a melanoma. Its very rare disease. She had mole removal to be safe and sure no suspicious (just suspicious but still not malignant) moles have been left.
The size does not tell anything at all. Generally large moles are more risky, but small one can be also malignant.
So please do not be afraid. Its just a precaution. The margins of mole removal is always 1-2 mm.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
No reason to be afraid.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Here is the thing. Moles (all of them) are benign lesions. In rare cases, mole can become a melanoma. That is why, we do year checkup with dermatoscope. Dermatologist types potential moles which can become a melanoma in the future. Believe me, if it were melanoma, dermatologist would tell you that and send for the removal right away. Experienced dermatologist can determine which mole is a melanoma and which is just suspicious.
In simple words, your wife does not have a melanoma. Its very rare disease. She had mole removal to be safe and sure no suspicious (just suspicious but still not malignant) moles have been left.
The size does not tell anything at all. Generally large moles are more risky, but small one can be also malignant.
So please do not be afraid. Its just a precaution. The margins of mole removal is always 1-2 mm.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks. But in relation to what you said, the dr did in fact remove the "suspicious" mole right away then and there. This was a private practicioner so she offerwd my wife to go to her GP to get the removal done, or to do it then and there for a fee. Which she did.
As the skin dr said that it was not looking bad on the outside, but suspcious in the dermathoscope, what does that tell you?
As the skin dr said that it was not looking bad on the outside, but suspcious in the dermathoscope, what does that tell you?
Brief Answer:
This is not a melanoma.
Detailed Answer:
This just means that the mole was not that serious so it could wait. In case of melanoma, usually we have no time to wait.
Dermatoscope image is what usually makes the mole to be removed. But like I have mentioned before, it does not mean its melanoma.
This is not a melanoma.
Detailed Answer:
This just means that the mole was not that serious so it could wait. In case of melanoma, usually we have no time to wait.
Dermatoscope image is what usually makes the mole to be removed. But like I have mentioned before, it does not mean its melanoma.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
OK, thanks!
But if the lab test will show it is a melanoma, what will happen then?
What in this situation speaks for/against that IF it is a melanoma, that it should have spread?
But if the lab test will show it is a melanoma, what will happen then?
What in this situation speaks for/against that IF it is a melanoma, that it should have spread?
Brief Answer:
It depends of the melanoma infiltration.
Detailed Answer:
If the pathologist report will diagnose melanoma malignum, the next step depends of the melanoma infiltration depth. If it will be less than 1 mm (melanoma insitu), only scar removal with 1cm margins will be necessary. Such insitu melanoma does not spread.
If the depth will be more than 1mm, sentinel lymph node biopsy will be done and scar removed with 2 cm margins. Also chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasound will be necessary to rule out possible metastases.
It depends of the melanoma infiltration.
Detailed Answer:
If the pathologist report will diagnose melanoma malignum, the next step depends of the melanoma infiltration depth. If it will be less than 1 mm (melanoma insitu), only scar removal with 1cm margins will be necessary. Such insitu melanoma does not spread.
If the depth will be more than 1mm, sentinel lymph node biopsy will be done and scar removed with 2 cm margins. Also chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasound will be necessary to rule out possible metastases.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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