title: Pigmented streaks in melanoma scars.
abstract: Fifty consecutive patients from our melanoma clinic were examined for the presence of transverse pigmented streaks in their melanoma surgical scars. Thirty-four (68%) patients were noted to have pigmented streaks in their melanoma scars. Ten of these 34 patients also had similar pigmented streaks in their nonmelanoma surgical scars. Long-term follow-up (mean 81.7 +/- 14.5 months, minimum 36 months) of these patients with the melanoma-scar pigmented streaks indicates that the streaks are benign. Histologic examination of a representative pigmented streak revealed basal layer hyperpigmentation without melanocytic hyperplasia. These streaks are frequently associated with the presence of freckles. However, this association may simply be coincidental.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sober
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*