Lentigo maligna

Abstract

Lentigo maligna (LM) is a frequent diagnostic challenge for clinicians because it occurs on exposed sun-damaged skin (often the face) of elderly people with diverse pigmentation types [1]. It is also a challenge for pathologists, as there is often great heterogeneity in the histopathologic features of LM in different parts of the lesion [2] and, in the early stages, it may be difficult to differentiate LM from melanocytic hyperplasia in sun-damaged skin [3–5]. LM also represents a therapeutic challenge because of its usual large size and face location. The recurrences are estimated to be between 8 and 31% after conventional surgery [6–8].