A natural history of melanomas and dysplastic nevi: an atlas of lesions in melanoma-prone families.

Background: Few long-term clinical and histologic data for melanocytic lesions have been available based on the mutation status of families at an increased risk of melanoma. In the current study, the authors describe the clinical and histologic features of dysplastic nevi and melanoma over time in families at an increased risk of melanoma with differing germline mutations in CDKN2A, CDK4, or not yet identified genes.

Methods: Thirty-three families with > 2 living members with invasive melanoma were evaluated clinically and followed prospectively for up to 25 years.