Common Moles, Dysplastic Nevi, and Risk of Melanoma by the National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute fact sheet. The opening What is a common mole? section defines a mole as a skin growth formed by clustered melanocytes and gives nevus as another name. The Can a common mole turn into melanoma? section distinguishes noncancerous common moles from melanoma. These definitional passages are separate from the page’s clinical advice.