Geometric staged excision for the treatment of lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma: a long-term experience with literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain and clarify the effectiveness and advantages of the geometric staged excision technique for the removal of lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM).


METHODS
This was a retrospective review of a patient database composed of 293 cases of LM and LMM.


METHODS
The Laser and Dermatologic Surgery Center in St Louis, Missouri, an academic-affiliated, private dermatologic surgery center.


METHODS
All patients with a diagnosis of LM and LMM treated by staged excision from 1999 to 2007.


METHODS
The overall rate of recrudescence, margins required for clearance, stages required for clearance, and lesional characteristics were examined.


RESULTS
The rate of recrudescence after geometric staged excision was 1.7% (4/239), with a mean of 32.3 months of follow-up. The mean margin to clearance after excision was 6.6 mm for LM and 8.2 mm for LMM. A total of 11.7% of LMM was initially diagnosed as LM on biopsy, with the invasive component discovered during the excision.


CONCLUSIONS
Geometric staged excision is an optimal method of removal of LM and LMM given its low rate of recrudescence and ability for complete examination of the peripheral and deep margins of the specimens.
Department of Dermatology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Mark
M
Abdelmalek
Michael P
MP
Loosemore
Mark A
MA
Hurt
George
G
Hruza
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome