A rare case of acral amelanotic melanoma, nodular type

Abstract

Amelanotic melanoma is a rare melanoma subtype, and it is even more rare when it occurs at an acral site. We here present a case of a nodular amelanotic acral melanoma (NAAM) occurring on the heel of an 83-year old female. It presented as an ulcerated pink nodular growth on the heel, which clinically mimicked other nodular non-pigmented lesions, causing a delay in diagnosis until it was biopsied. This case is a demonstration of the critical importance to include NAAM in the differential diagnosis of nodular non-pigmented skin lesions as to avoid delay in diagnosis and disease progression, in which early detection can provide the most modifiable prognostic factor.