The complete histopathologic removal of nearly 9 of 10 dysplastic nevi (DN), using a peripheral margin of 2 mm of normal skin and a depth at the dermis and subcutaneous fat junction, has the potential to decrease second procedures at DN biopsy sites, thereby decreasing patient morbidity and saving health care dollars, a recent study found. Researchers conducted a prospective study of a saucerization method using a defined 2-mm margin in patients undergoing biopsy of a pigmented skin lesion. They performed 151 biopsies in 138 patients and found:

• Overall, 137 of 151 lesions subjected to biopsy (90.7%) were melanocytic: 86 DN (57.0%), 40 nevi without atypia (26.5%), and 11 melanomas (7.3%).
• Of 78 DN, 68 (87.2%) were removed with clear histopathologic margins (8 DN were excluded because of inadequate processing).
• There was no clinical evidence of recurrence at any of the biopsy sites that were simply observed (ie, not re-excised) over a median of 16.9 months.