Lentigo maligna: current concepts in diagnosis and management.
Lentigo maligna (LM) is a cutaneous malignancy with increasing incidence and significant risk of morbidity. Early diagnosis of LM requires a high index of suspicion for the often subtle atypical signs of pigmented lesions on sun-damaged skin. A variety of treatment options are available to the physician. Surgical options include simple excision and margin-control techniques such as staged excision and Mohs micrographic surgery. Tissue may be embedded vertically or en face, and processed as frozen or paraffin-embedded sections. Destructive options include radiotherapy, cryotherapy, curettage, and electro-destruction. Topical therapy may be appropriate in selected cases; immunotherapy with topical imiquimod may have advantages over other topical agents. The opportunity for curative therapy is maximized by surgical treatment. Margin-control surgery offers the highest cure rate while minimizing loss of normal tissue.
Town Square Dermatology, Coralville, IA 52246, USA. hobartwalling@yahoo.com
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D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017679:Cryotherapy; D003475:Curettage; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D000077271:Imiquimod; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod