Spread of a recurrent lentigo maligna into a graft: a case for conservative treatment

Lentigo maligna is an in situ malignant melanoma for which the treatment of choice is surgical excision. The recurrence rate in lentigo maligna is hig h and hence other treatments, such as cryotherapy, laser therapy, radiother apy and Mohs' chemosurgery, have been described. Despite the high recurrenc e rate, spread of a lentigo maligna into a skin graft is rare. We describe a case of a recurrent lentigo maligna spreading into a skin graft, which, a long with the cases described in the literature, highlights the presence of a group of low-grade malignant lentiginous lesions that may be managed by careful follow-up and observation. (C) 2001 The British Association of Plas tic Surgeons.