Pseudo-melanoma after laser therapy.
A 44-year-old woman had several congenital melanocytic nevi that were treated with a CO2 laser. Six weeks after the laser treatment one lesion repigmented and was therefore excised. The initial histological diagnosis of malignant melanoma was revised to 'pseudo-melanoma' after re-evaluation of the history, the clinical presentation and the histology. We conclude that pseudo-melanoma is a complication of laser therapy that has to be recognised in order to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
R
R
Dummer
W
W
Kempf
G
G
Burg
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*