Lentigo maligna melanoma is a slow-growing skin cancer caused by long-term exposure to UV light. It affects 10% of skin cancer patients and is more common in those over 65. Early diagnosis is key, and surgical excision is the preferred treatment. Other options include cryotherapy and radiation therapy.
Lentigo maligna melanoma is a type of skin cancer characterized by slowly growing lesions on the face or neck. Most cases are thought to be caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun and other workplace-related sources. Men and women over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of developing the condition. Isolated small to medium-sized lentigo maligna melanoma lesions can usually be removed by surgery, which cures the condition. Some patients need additional procedures, including radiation and cryotherapy, if the lesions cannot be removed.
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers among middle-aged and elderly people. Lentigo maligna melanoma is a relatively rare variety, affecting about 10% of all people diagnosed with skin cancer. Research suggests that lesions appear when light-sensitive skin cells called melanocytes are damaged over the course of several years. The abnormal melanocytes begin to invade the deeper layers of the skin and a malignant tumor is formed. Unlike some more dangerous types of melanoma, lentigo maligna tumors tend to remain isolated instead of spreading to lymph nodes, lungs, and other parts of the body.
An initial lesion can be seen well before it becomes malignant. It can take ten years or more for lentigo maligna to become a serious health problem. An emerging lesion typically appears as a flat brown or brown spot with an irregular border. Over the course of several years, the lesion spreads and becomes darker. A lesion that has advanced to cancerous stages may feel soft and lumpy to the touch.
Early diagnosis is the key to treating most cancers, and lentigo maligna melanoma is no exception. An individual who notices changes in a mole or the emergence of an entirely new lesion on their face should make an appointment with a dermatologist. Your doctor can carefully evaluate the appearance of the lesion and ask about your family history of skin cancer to make an initial diagnosis. A biopsy is usually done to see if the lesion has malignant potential.
Surgical excision of lentigo maligna melanoma is the first choice of treatment in most cases. A dermatologist can carefully remove the entire tumor and treat the surgical wound as needed. If surgery isn’t an option because there are multiple lesions or the patient has a dangerous underlying health condition, the doctor may consider freezing the lesions with liquid nitrogen. A course of radiation therapy is another option if other treatments fail to get results. Most patients experience full recoveries after treatment, although it is possible for the melanoma to reappear in another location in the future.
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