Many Patients Miss Mole Growth, Study Finds

July 10, 2002

Mon Jul 8, 2:33 PM ET

By Charnicia E. Huggins

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Patients who can identify changes in the size

and shape of their moles can help their doctors to spot melanoma, the

deadliest form of skin cancer, at an early and more treatable stage. But

study findings show that many people seem to be unable to determine whether

or not their moles are enlarging.

" In this study, the patients identified only a small proportion of enlarging

melanocytic nevi (moles), " write study author Dr. Harald Kittler of the

University of Vienna Medical School in Austria and colleagues.

The researchers investigated patients' ability to identify enlarging moles

in a study of 251 people with a total of 1,431 moles. Although the patients

were not told to examine their skin, they were evaluated on their ability to

notice changes during an examination that took place 6 to 12 months after an

initial doctor visit.

Altogether, 46 (3%) of the patients' moles had enlarged during the follow-up

period, but patients only identified 17 moles has having enlarged, the

authors report in the July issue of Archives of Dermatology ( news - web

sites).

What's more, only 5 of the 17 moles identified by patients had actually

grown larger, study findings indicate.

" The ability of patients to identify enlarging nevi (moles) depended on the

relative area expansion of the lesions, " the researchers write. " This means

that, if the patient reported enlargement of a lesion, it was likely that

the lesion had enlarged substantially. "

Commenting on the findings, Dr. A. Carucci of Weill Medical College of

Cornell University in New York City told Reuters Health the study " reaffirms

the need for periodic evaluation of patients with nevi by dermatologists in

order to detect changes in moles that may facilitate early detection of

melanoma. "

He added, " The study also supports the need for immediate evaluation by a

dermatologist any time a patient perceives a change in a pre-existing mole,

since that change may be more significant than anticipated by the patient. "

Carucci, who is also affiliated with the New York Presbyterian Hospital, is

not associated with Kittler's research.

SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology 2002;138:984-985.

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