What are the different types of moles?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 32-year-old male with no major past medical history to speak of. I have had this mole on my right shoulder for sometime, it could be years but I am unsure, and I just want to have a dermatologist look at it to make sure it is not suspicious. I have no family history of melanoma or other skin cancers.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query. I have seen the attached photographs also (attachment removed to protect patient identity). I understand your concern. From the images, there are following possibilities for the mole you talked about:

1. Lentigines.

2. Spitz nevus.

3. Melanocytic nevus.

4. Melanoma.

In such spurious cases, I prefer to advise excisional biopsy and send it for histopathology to rule out any associated atypical features. Dermatoscopy also helps to some extent in arriving to a conclusion prior to biospy. As per my advice, you should consult your dermatologist in person for proper clinical examination and if needed he would do skin biopsy for you. Although melanoma is a remote possibility as observed from the image, still it cannot be ignored.