Q & A with Dr. Buka! Q: Should I be concerned with a mole regrowing to previous size after punch biopsy? I have a mole on my areola, which Ive had my entire life. A few months ago, I got it checked for melanoma since it began to change. The dermatologist did a punch biopsy on the flat mole, and it came back as benign. I noticed that it quickly returned to the original size after only a few months. Should I be concerned about the regrowth? My dermatologist immediately scheduled an appt. for me to see a plastic surgeon for removal of the mole and check for melanoma once again. How will this heal? A: It may not be cancerous! Moles (nevi) that have been examined pathologically and deemed “benign” may still repopulate in the area of a biopsy months or years later. That does NOT mean that the mole is now cancerous, it’s just recurrent. Remember, it only takes a few nevus cells (melanocytes) left behind to entirely repopulate a mole. However, rapid growth, changing colors or symptoms do warrant a repeat biopsy. Small biopsies that are 1-2mm in diameter heal beautifully on the breast, larger ones can be a scarring challenge depending upon the tension of skin in that area. For more, check out bobbybukamd/realself-qa#575
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 17:00:00 +0000
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