The management of dysplastic naevi: a survey of Australian dermatologists

Background/objectives: The management of dysplastic naevi based on histopathological grading is a contentious issue. Comprehensive management guidelines are lacking and the approach taken varies between clinicians. The authors sought to understand how Australian dermatologists approach the management of biopsy-proven dysplastic naevi, and the impact of grading of dysplasia upon this management.

Methods: In total, 547 Fellows of the Australasian College of Dermatologists were surveyed and 218 responses were collected (40% response rate).

Results: Although all dermatologists surveyed would re-excise an incompletely removed severely dysplastic naevus, opinion was divided over whether to treat such a lesion as an in situ melanoma or a dysplastic naevus, with 55% of respondents using a 5-mm margin and the remainder opting for narrow margin re-excision. When the same lesion was reported to be clear of margins by 1 mm after biopsy and the clinical suspicion for melanoma was high, 44% would re-excise with a 5-mm margin.

Conclusions: The approach of Australian dermatologists to the management of dysplastic naevi varies between clinicians, reflecting the problems raised by the validity of histopathological grading.