title: Melanoma of the glans penis successfully treated with topical imiquimod: dermoscopy usefulness in clinical monitoring and review of the literature.
abstract: Melanoma in situ (MIS) of the penis is very rare in dermatologic literature. The standard of care for MIS is surgical removal by excision with a 5-mm margins or Mohs micrographic surgery. Nevertheless, surgery is occasionally not feasible for a number of reasons, such as patient comorbidities, potential aesthetic and functional impairment and patient preference. Recently, topical treatment with an immunomodulator, imiquimod, has been proposed as an alternative treatment for MIS. Dermoscopy, beyond its well established usefulness in the diagnostic evaluation of melanocytic lesions, has also shown to be an important tool in monitoring therapeutic response to various dermatoses. We present a case of a 38-year-old man who presented a MIS of the glans penis, histopathologically diagnosed, treated successfully using imiquimod.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy - scalvenz@unina.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scalvenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palmisano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mascolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod