Biopsies of Nevi in Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2009 Through 2013

Abstract

The increase in incidence and mortality of melanoma over the past 30 years has heightened public and physician awareness. It is suggested that the combination of increasing detection pressure and poor specificity of current diagnostic strategies is driving biopsy rates to alarming levels in younger individuals despite a low risk of melanoma.¹ Nevertheless, the number of nevi biopsied in children and adolescents remains poorly characterized in the United States.