title: Lentigo maligna (melanoma in situ) treated with imiquimod cream 5%: 12 case reports.
abstract: Lentigo maligna (LM) is an in situ variant of melanoma. Although LM has the potential for invasion, it often has a greatly protracted radial growth phase and may remain indolent for years. The current standard of care is surgical excision, but this often results in substantial morbidity; thus, nonsurgical approaches continue to be investigated. Imiquimod cream 5% is an immunomodulatory agent that previously has been reported to successfully eradicate LM. We evaluated the treatment course of topical imiquimod in 12 patients with LM. Data from patients with biopsy-proven LM were collected retrospectively, reviewed, and summarized. Patients ranged in age from 54 to 83 years. Most patients chose imiquimod cream as their initial form of treatment; however, other patients had a history of LM recurrence after excision or had positive histologic margins at the time of excision. Initial application regimens varied from 2 to 7 times weekly. The average duration of treatment was 15.7 weeks but ranged from 7 to 44 weeks. Results of posttreatment biopsies of the most clinically suspicious areas in 6 patients showed histologic clearance; 2 patients demonstrated single atypical melanocytes and 4 patients demonstrated clinical clearance without histologic confirmation. These findings suggest that imiquimod cream 5% may be an effective alternative treatment for LM.
authors: Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA.
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: Spenny
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Walford
authors: Andrew E
authors: AE
authors: Werchniak
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Beltrani
authors: Jeoffry B
authors: JB
authors: Brennick
authors: Craig A
authors: CA
authors: Storm
authors: Ann E
authors: AE
authors: Perry
authors: M Shane
authors: MS
authors: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D000077271:Imiquimod