What is the difference between a mole and a nevus? ما هو الفرق بين الوحمة والشامة؟

Before going into the Arabic words, firstly, lets start with the Egnlish words. What is the difference between a mole and a nevus?

Searching google for the above question doesn’t show any direct results.

http://www.google.com/search?sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=what%20is%20the%20difference%20between%20a%20mole%20and%20a%20nevus&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&psj=1&cad=h

Apparently, I am asking this question because English is a second language to me!!!

After visiting the below websites, I concluded that:

The two words are synonyms. A mole = nevus. What is more, two sites (Wikipedia and Mayoclinic) say that “Nevus” is the medical term for “mole”. 

Sources:

1. Stedman’s Electronic Medical Dictionary, version 6.0, 2004: 

# Mole - Syn: Nevus.

# Nevus: A benign localized overgrowth of melanin-forming cells of the skin present at birth or appearing early in life. Syn: mole(1). [L. naevus, mole, birthmark]

P.S. The above information is from a PC program not from a website. 

2. Wikipedia: 

Nevus (or naevus, plural nevi or naevi, from nævus, Latin for “birthmark“) is the medical term for sharply-circumscribed^[1] and chroniclesions of the skin. These lesions are commonly named birthmarks and moles.

Source: “Nevus”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevus, retrieved 02.05.2011

3. Merriam Webster Online Medical Dictioanry:

Nevus: a congenital or acquired usually highly pigmented area on the skin that is either flat or raised : mole

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nevus?show=0&t=1304344254, retrieved 02.05.2011

Mole: a pigmented spot, mark, or small permanent protuberance on the human body; especially : nevus
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mole, retrieved 02.05.2011

4. Mayoclinic.com: 

“Moles, known medically as nevi, are clusters of pigmented cells that often appear as small, dark brown spots. However, moles can come in a range of colors and can develop virtually anywhere on your body…”
Source: “Moles”, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/moles/DS00121, retrieved 02.05.2011 

5. Dermatologychannel.com

“Moles, or nevi (singular: nevus), are the most common growths in humans. They can be present at birth or acquired throughout life…”

Source: “Moles (nevi) overview”, http://www.dermatologychannel.net/moles/index.shtml,,

retrieved 02.05.2011

Now to the Arabic trnaslation. There are two English words for the condition, are there two Arabic words as well?The problem in Arabic translation for medical terms, and scientific terms in general, is that there is no authority throughout the whole Arab World that is recognized as a standard for any translations to Arabic; (This is what I understood from a very interesting discussion by a Dr. Mahmood Hayawi Hamash, a doctorwhom I am proud to have been taught by in the Faculty of Medicine in Mu’tah University.)

There are two translations: وحمة + شامة… Which is the translation of nevus and which one is the translation of mole?

Nevus = وحمة

Mole = خال، شامة

:مصادر

1. المعجم الطبي الموحد، منظمة الصحة العالمية، المكتب الإقليمي للشرق الأوسط

Nevus:

Arabic :

وَحْمَة

Source: http://www.emro.who.int/UMD/Search%20Engine/Forms/MeaningResults.aspx?QueryID=1&TermID=4fa003bc-efbb-4842-a483-524eea0b740a

Mole:

Arabic : خَالٌ , رَحَى , مول

http://www.emro.who.int/UMD/Search%20Engine/Forms/MeaningResults.aspx?QueryID=3&TermID=e4367390-f59f-4e3d-bc4b-2d572efa3d9e

2. موقع الطبي

وحمة”، موقع”الطبي، http://www.altibbi.com/definition/%D9%88%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A9

3. برنامج المعجم الطبي من إنتاج الشامل للنشر الإلكتروني: 

nevus [pl. nevi]: وحمة (ج: وحمات)

mole: خال + شامة

At the end, what is important is this summary: 

 Mole = Nevus =  شامة = وحمة = خال