Lin Lin, MD, PhD

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Michelle Bennett)

A 90-year-old woman presents for evaluation of a pigmented lesion on the right cheek (Figure 1).

Q: Which is the best diagnosis?

• Seborrheic keratosis
• Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
• Congenital nevus
• Lentigo maligna melanoma
• Actinic purpura

A: The answer is lentigo maligna melanoma. Biopsy revealed the spread of atypical melanocytes along the dermal-epidermal junction and in irregularly shaped and confluent nests. Focal invasion into the papillary dermis was noted when definitive excision was performed.

Lentigo maligna melanoma develops on sun-damaged skin.¹ Although most common in older people, lentigo maligna melanoma is now sometimes encountered in younger people. In either case, it is identified using the ABCDE rule of asymmetry, irregular border, color variations, diameter larger than 6 mm, and evolution.²

Seborrheic keratosis often has a rough surface and looks “stuck on.” Basal cell carcinoma usually has a waxy texture, may have a “rolled” border, and usually has telangiectatic vessels at the margins. A congenital nevus is typically stable and long-standing. Many nevi have more uniform pigmentation and lack the different colors and hues typical of melanoma. Purpura usually resolves after a few weeks.

An adequate biopsy is essential for diagnosis and excludes the other entities mentioned in the differential diagnosis.

Surgical treatment with adequate margin control is the cornerstone of therapy.^3,4 Topical imiquimod cream (Aldara) may be of value for precursor lentigo maligna lesions proven to be in situ,⁵ but this is not advocated for invasive disease. Since treatment of smaller lesions is much less difficult and disfiguring, clinicians should be suspicious of any persistent, evolving pigmentary abnormality on sun-damaged skin. Biopsy clarifies the diagnosis.

 

 

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Michelle Bennett)

A 90-year-old woman presents for evaluation of a pigmented lesion on the right cheek (Figure 1).

Q: Which is the best diagnosis?

• Seborrheic keratosis
• Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
• Congenital nevus
• Lentigo maligna melanoma
• Actinic purpura

A: The answer is lentigo maligna melanoma. Biopsy revealed the spread of atypical melanocytes along the dermal-epidermal junction and in irregularly shaped and confluent nests. Focal invasion into the papillary dermis was noted when definitive excision was performed.

Lentigo maligna melanoma develops on sun-damaged skin.¹ Although most common in older people, lentigo maligna melanoma is now sometimes encountered in younger people. In either case, it is identified using the ABCDE rule of asymmetry, irregular border, color variations, diameter larger than 6 mm, and evolution.²

Seborrheic keratosis often has a rough surface and looks “stuck on.” Basal cell carcinoma usually has a waxy texture, may have a “rolled” border, and usually has telangiectatic vessels at the margins. A congenital nevus is typically stable and long-standing. Many nevi have more uniform pigmentation and lack the different colors and hues typical of melanoma. Purpura usually resolves after a few weeks.

An adequate biopsy is essential for diagnosis and excludes the other entities mentioned in the differential diagnosis.

Surgical treatment with adequate margin control is the cornerstone of therapy.^3,4 Topical imiquimod cream (Aldara) may be of value for precursor lentigo maligna lesions proven to be in situ,⁵ but this is not advocated for invasive disease. Since treatment of smaller lesions is much less difficult and disfiguring, clinicians should be suspicious of any persistent, evolving pigmentary abnormality on sun-damaged skin. Biopsy clarifies the diagnosis.

 

 

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Michelle Bennett)

A 90-year-old woman presents for evaluation of a pigmented lesion on the right cheek (Figure 1).

Q: Which is the best diagnosis?

• Seborrheic keratosis
• Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
• Congenital nevus
• Lentigo maligna melanoma
• Actinic purpura

A: The answer is lentigo maligna melanoma. Biopsy revealed the spread of atypical melanocytes along the dermal-epidermal junction and in irregularly shaped and confluent nests. Focal invasion into the papillary dermis was noted when definitive excision was performed.

Lentigo maligna melanoma develops on sun-damaged skin.¹ Although most common in older people, lentigo maligna melanoma is now sometimes encountered in younger people. In either case, it is identified using the ABCDE rule of asymmetry, irregular border, color variations, diameter larger than 6 mm, and evolution.²

Seborrheic keratosis often has a rough surface and looks “stuck on.” Basal cell carcinoma usually has a waxy texture, may have a “rolled” border, and usually has telangiectatic vessels at the margins. A congenital nevus is typically stable and long-standing. Many nevi have more uniform pigmentation and lack the different colors and hues typical of melanoma. Purpura usually resolves after a few weeks.

An adequate biopsy is essential for diagnosis and excludes the other entities mentioned in the differential diagnosis.

Surgical treatment with adequate margin control is the cornerstone of therapy.^3,4 Topical imiquimod cream (Aldara) may be of value for precursor lentigo maligna lesions proven to be in situ,⁵ but this is not advocated for invasive disease. Since treatment of smaller lesions is much less difficult and disfiguring, clinicians should be suspicious of any persistent, evolving pigmentary abnormality on sun-damaged skin. Biopsy clarifies the diagnosis.