Lentigo maligna melanoma with a history of cosmetic treatment: Prevalence, surgical outcomes, and considerations Journal Article


Authors: Hibler, B. P.; Connolly, K. L.; Lee, E. H.; Rossi, A. M.; Nehal, K. S.
Article Title: Lentigo maligna melanoma with a history of cosmetic treatment: Prevalence, surgical outcomes, and considerations
Abstract: Introduction: Lentigo maligna (LM) is melanoma in situ on sun-damaged skin and presents diagnostic challenges due to overlapping features with benign pigmented lesions. Cosmetic treatments may be inadvertently performed on LM. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of LM with prior cosmetic treatment, and evaluate surgical outcomes. Study Design and Methods: Retrospective review of biopsy-proven LM presenting over a 10-year-period (2006–2015). Prior cosmetic treatment and biopsies were recorded. Records were reviewed for demographic data, clinical characteristics, and surgical outcomes. Results: 37/503 (7.4%) patients with LM reported prior cosmetic therapy. Most (95%) were on the head and neck; mean size 1.9 cm. Most patients reported cryotherapy (73%), followed by laser (29.7%), topical bleaching agents (18.9%), and electrodessication, and/or curettage (5.3%). Ten patients (27%) received two or more modalities. Eight patients (21.6%) reported prior benign biopsies. Six patients (16%) had invasive disease, two on initial biopsy and 4/34 (11.7%) upstaged upon excision. Average margin for clearance was 9.1 mm. Conclusion: Prior cosmetic treatment of LM is not uncommon, and may delay diagnosis and obscure borders, resulting in wider surgical margins. Clinicians should consider a biopsy confirming the benign nature of equivocal lesions prior to cosmetic treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:819–826, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keywords: melanoma; lentigo maligna; seborrheic keratosis; cryotherapy; laser; benign; staged excision; cosmetic; solar lentigo; pigmented lesion
Journal Title: Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
Volume: 49
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0196-8092
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons  
Date Published: 2017-11-01
Start Page: 819
End Page: 826
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/lsm.22691
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5643209
PUBMED: 28555933
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 November 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Kishwer S Nehal
    278 Nehal
  2. Erica H Lee
    135 Lee
  3. Anthony Rossi
    233 Rossi
  4. Brian Phillip Hibler
    55 Hibler