title: Surgical treatments for lentigo maligna: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since its initial description by Jonathan Hutchinson 120 years ago, a substantial amount of research has occurred to determine the optimum surgical therapy for lentigo maligna (LM).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the literature regarding the surgical treatment of LM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the National Library of Medicine using Pubmed Central and MEDLINE and included as many investigational reports regarding LM therapy that were available in an attempt to form a comprehensive review of surgical modalities. The key words "lentigo maligna,""lentigo maligna treatment,""lentigo maligna therapy," and "lentigo maligna therapeutic modalities" were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 12 studies examining staged surgical excision (SSE), nine using Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), six investigating cryosurgery, 22 investigating imiquimod, seven using lasers, nine investigating radiation therapy, and two investigating electrosurgery and curettage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSE and MMS are associated with the lowest recurrence rates for LM. Cryotherapy and radiation therapy may be considered the options for treatment of LM in patients who cannot tolerate surgery. Imiquimod, although not currently approved by the FDA, has shown some efficacy in limited experimental studies and may play a future role in the treatment of LM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouri
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003452:Cryosurgery; D003475:Curettage; D004598:Electrosurgery; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053685:Laser Therapy; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod