[Pseudomelanoma following laser treatment or laser-treated melanoma?].
BACKGROUND
The increasing use of lasers for the removal of pigmented skin lesions has led to a growing risk of erroneously treated malignant melanocytic tumours.


METHODS
In two patients, both of whom developed a melanoma, the lesions were initially misdiagnosed clinically as a benign naevus and treated with laser vaporisation.


RESULTS
On recurrence of the tumours, the diagnosis of melanoma was finally established by histological examination of the excised tumours in which differentiation from pseudomelanoma remained difficult.


CONCLUSIONS
In such cases of initially misdiagnosed melanomas, laser removal not only complicates and delays the correct diagnosis but might also worsen the prognosis after recurrence of an incompletely removed tumour.
Böer
Almut
A
Zentrum der Dermatologie und Venerologie, Klinikum der J. W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main. boer@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Wolter
Manfred
M
Kaufmann
Roland
R
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*