title: [Amelanotic melanoma of the vulva simulating lichen sclerosus et atrophicus].
abstract: Malignant melanoma of the vulva is an uncommon disease. The amelanotic subtype is only rarely mentioned. We report a 60-year-old patient with a 6 month history of vulvar pruritus. Ivory lesions combined with erosions and fine "cigarette paper'-like wrinkling were suspicious for lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Histologically the diagnosis of an amelanotic malignant melanoma was made. Amelanotic melanoma may present with a wide variety of clinical features. Even in the uncommon location of the vulva, amelanotic melanoma should be suspected in any nonhealing nonpigmented lesion.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Hautklinik, Tübingen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dietl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schaumburg-Lever
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fierlbeck
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D014844:Vulva / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery