Kara Gooding, PA-C, shares valuable insights on decoding benign versus malignant pink bumps based on a presentation at DEF Essential Resource Meeting 2026 (DERM2026) NP/PA CME Conference. Drawing from her clinical practice, she explains that evaluating a lesion’s history, location, and symptoms like bleeding or pain is critical because dermoscopy is less effective for nonpigmented bumps. She highlights the danger of Merkel cell carcinoma, a highly metastatic tumor linked to UV radiation and the Merkel cell polyoma virus that can easily go undetected on standard CT scans. Ultimately, she utilizes real case studies from her own career to demonstrate how lethal cancers and amelanotic melanomas can masquerade as common warts, nevi, or dermatofibromas, reminding clinicians to critically evaluate every innocent-looking bump.
