Precursors of skin melanoma (melanoma-sensitive nevi)

Interest in melanoma precursors, or melanoma-sensitive skin nevi, has not lost its relevance for many years due to the steady increase of skin melanoma morbidity in recent decades among the population (annual growth up to 5%). Skin melanoma occupies a leading place among causes of death from all malignant tumors of the skin (up to 70%). We aimed to systematize, summarize scientific and practical data from the world and Russian literature on congenital melanocytic nevi, dysplastic nevi, dysplastic nevi syndrome and hereditary FAMMM syndrome (familial hereditary syndrome of atypical nevi and melanoma) and determine their place in relation to the risk of developing a nevus-associated skin melanoma. Not everyone knows that actually melanoma can be formed in addition to certain, so-called melanoma-sensitive skin nevi only in 20—25% of cases. It should also be emphasized that the opposite pattern is typical for childhood: skin melanoma develops in 28—30% of patients on unaltered skin and in 70% secondary to giant congenital nevus. It is also important to note that the younger age of patients is typical for nevus-associated melanoma compared to de novo melanoma. The presence of melanoma history, including among near relatives, should significantly increase the patient’s motivation to regularly perform self-examination, to comply with the time limits for dynamic monitoring and measures to prevent malignant skin tumors, as well as to compile so-called skin passport (nevi record). Understanding of the mod ern pattern of skin melanoma precursors, doctor’s mastery of their non-invasive optical and invasive diagnosis (biopsy) and their role among melanocytic skin neoplasms will allow to build personalized tactics in regard to these patients. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.