Anonymous wrote:As I understand it, if a derm is suspicious of melanoma, then the entire mole should be excised and sent to pathology. Depending on the path results, it may be necessary to do a further excision or more to ensure margins are clear. Shaving is more commonly used for other types of skin cancer. But, it varies, I'm sure, depending on who you see.

This. Suspicious melanoma is always excised.

I've had this happen. One mole came back mildly atypical (in the fall) after they took a bit of it during a routine visit and sent to the lab. I went back for a full excision (with an internal stitch and external ones) plus the area around it. It's still healing. They just checked on a couple more, just again took the top layers off and sent to the lab where they came back normal...

As I understand it, if a derm is suspicious of melanoma, then the entire mole should be excised and sent to pathology. Depending on the path results, it may be necessary to do a further excision or more to ensure margins are clear. Shaving is more commonly used for other types of skin cancer. But, it varies, I'm sure, depending on who you see.

Anonymous wrote:I know it's so hard to wait. Like the other PPs, my derm shaves them off first. I have had two of them that were atypical and then had to be "excised and stitched.
I think "atypical" means "good for you for having this removed before anything changed!"

+1. I think whether "atypical" means pre-cancerous depends on who you ask. Generally, I think there are various level of atypia and that most are mild and moderate, meaning good to get it taken care of. I've had two in this category that were just excised and stitched. I had one that my derm referred to as "severely atypical" and "precancerous" and she did a deep excision of it to make sure it was gone. It felt the same and looked the same post-removal as the others. In other words, it wasn't a big difference for my atypical moles and my precancerous mole.

Anonymous wrote:This is great question, OP. I, too, had a suspicious mole. Actually it was a red, raised mole, kind of looked like a cherry hemangioma. But it itched so damn bad. I've never had any hemangioma itch like that before. So I went to a derm who is supposed to be the best in this area. He announced quite casually that it was just a hemangioma and burned it off. But the fact that it's removed yet that area STILL itches is worrying the hell out of me. Why didn't he send it out for pathology?

Now I'm realizing maybe he made a mistake.

It doesn't sound like a mistake. The itching comes from the increased circulation to the area. Even when the hemangioma is removed there is sometimes more dense blood vessels there. Go back to that Dr for reassessment to see if there's anything else to be done.

This is great question, OP. I, too, had a suspicious mole. Actually it was a red, raised mole, kind of looked like a cherry hemangioma. But it itched so damn bad. I've never had any hemangioma itch like that before. So I went to a derm who is supposed to be the best in this area. He announced quite casually that it was just a hemangioma and burned it off. But the fact that it's removed yet that area STILL itches is worrying the hell out of me. Why didn't he send it out for pathology?

Now I'm realizing maybe he made a mistake.

I know it's so hard to wait. Like the other PPs, my derm shaves them off first. I have had two of them that were atypical and then had to be "excised and stitched.
I think "atypical" means "good for you for having this removed before anything changed!"

Anonymous wrote:They are usually shaved first, then biopsied. If they come back atypical, they are usually excised (conical excision, I think, that requires stitches). I've had about 6 moles shaved and two were excised bc of atypicality.

Does atypicality reflect pre-cancer?

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I am calm again and will now try to put it out of my mind for the 2 weeks it takes to get results!

OP, no stress. I have one of the top derms in the area and she always shaves them first.

They are usually shaved first, then biopsied. If they come back atypical, they are usually excised (conical excision, I think, that requires stitches). I've had about 6 moles shaved and two were excised bc of atypicality.

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Ugh, now I'm reading that it's akways recommended to excise suspicious moles, rather than slice.
I'm worried that I didn't get the proper care.

Isn't the point to get it tested? If it's a problem you can go back in to get it fully excised.

Melanoma survivor here - I've had a lot of moles removed in different ways, and the advice has changed over the years. IF you had it done by a dermatologist and they're sending it for pathology, I wouldn't be concerned.

derm ?

OP again. Ugh, now I'm reading that it's akways recommended to excise suspicious moles, rather than slice.
I'm worried that I didn't get the proper care.

Back in 2002 I had a suspicious mole removed, and the doc excised it, so I needed stitches and now have a scar (fortunately turned out to be benign).
Just had a similar suspicious mole removed, but go to a different derm and they just sliced it off without excising it, for biopsy.

Does the method used to remove the mole reflect anything? Do docs tend to excise only very suspicious looking moles, or is it just a personal preference thing? Just wondering (and worrying, because this mole actually looked worse than the last one.