| Lentigo maligna | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Lentiginous melanoma on sun-damaged skin' |
 | |
| Irregular patch about 10mm square after scrape biopsy which concluded "suspicious of early malignant melanoma". Colour before scrape biopsy was light brown. Post excision pathology was "Lentigo maligna - Melanoma in situ" | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
Lentigo maligna is where melanocyte cells have become malignant and grow continuously along the stratum basale of the skin,[1] but have not invaded below the epidermis.[2] Lentigo maligna is not the same as lentigo maligna melanoma, as detailed below. It typically progresses very slowly and can remain in a non-invasive form for years.
It is normally found in the elderly (peak incidence in the 9th decade), on skin areas with high levels of sun exposure like the face and forearms. Incidence of evolution to lentigo maligna melanoma is low, about 2.2% to 5% in elderly patients.
It is also known as "Hutchinson's melanotic freckle".[3] This is named for Jonathan Hutchinson.[4][5] The word lentiginous comes from the latin for freckle.
- ^ Oakley, Amanda (2011). "Lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma". DermNet NZ.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Xiong2019was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Green A, Little JH, Weedon D (January 1983). "The diagnosis of Hutchinson's melanotic freckle (lentigo maligna) in Queensland". Pathology. 15 (1): 33–5. doi:10.3109/00313028309061399. PMID 6856341. S2CID 36643652.
- ^ synd/1439 at Who Named It?
- ^ J. Hutchinson. Senile freckle with deep staining - a superficial epithelioma of the cheek. Archives of Surgery, London, 1892, 3: 159.