LENTIGO MALIGNA AND LENTIGO MALIGNA MELANOMA

Lentigo maligna (LM) is a pigmented lesion that occurs on the sun-expo sed skin, particularly the head and neck areas, of an older patient. T he lesion increases in size and at some point, often many years after its onset, may become lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). For this reason, most authors consider LM a form of melanoma in situ. Treatment includ es surgical or destructive modalities; the preferred form of therapy i s surgical removal. Histopathologic features include a proliferation o f atypical melanocytes along the basal layer of the epidermis and adne xal structures. This article discusses the clinical, histopathologic, and epidemiologic features of LM. The prognosis and treatment of LM ar e reviewed. Although the lifetime risk of the development of LMM is un clear, LMM is discussed briefly. Learning objective: At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with lenti go maligna in terms of epidemiology, including the role of long-term s un exposure; clinical features, such as lesional appearance, patient c haracteristics, treatment, and prognosis; and histopathologic features .