Benign describes a growth that is not cancerous. This diagnostic code refers to benign growths occurring on the skin. Some benign skin growths are moles, dysplastic nevi, acrochordons (skin tags), lipomas, nevus flammeus, hemangiomas, lymphangiomas, granulomas, seborrheic keratoses, dermatofibroma, and keratocanthoma.

The cause of skin lesions may be inherited as in dysplastic nevi. Some may occur as a result of pregnancy or liver cirrhosis as in spider angioma. Granulomas occur as the result of injury. The causes are unknown in seborrheic keratoses and dermatofibroma, and sun exposure has a relationship to keratocanthoma.

Signs and symptoms of benign skin growths include:

• Moles - Pigmented macules or papules occurring in clusters or singly, and may be yellow-brown in color, black, or flesh-colored.

• Dysplastic nevi - Large pigmented lesions that have irregular, poorly-defined borders, tan or brownish in color, and consisting of papular or macular components.

• Skin tags (acrochordons) - Lesions that are flesh-colored, pedunculated and small.

• Lipomas - Subcutaneous nodules covered with normal skin.

• Angiomas - Inclusion of vascular lesions, e.g., hemangioma, lymphangioma (dilated, yellowish cystic lymph vessels), and spider angioma (slender red projections resembling spider legs).

• Nevus flammeus - A port-wine stain often seen on the face and scalp.

• Pyogenic granuloma - A nodule composed of capillaries that are scarlet, brown or blue-black in color.

• Seborrheic keratoses - Superficial lesions that may be warty or smooth papules.

• Dermatofibroma - A firm nodule or papule, red-brown in color, and usually on the legs.

• Keratoacanthoma - A firm, round, flesh-colored nodule with a central crater that is filled with keratinous material.

If lesions show changes, become painful, bleed or ulcerate, then an excision and biopsy will be performed.

Excision, biopsy, liposuction, removal with liquid nitrogen, electrodesiccation, use of steroids, and lasers are among the possible treatments that are used.

About 40 to 50% of malignant melanomas (see Diagnostic Code: 7818 Malignant skin neoplasms [other than malignant melanoma]) come from the melanocyte tissue in moles. Dysplastic nevi-melanoma syndrome patients are at increased risk for melanoma, and carry a autosomal dominant gene. Scars from various treatments may result, and body image considerations and counseling may be necessary.

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