Is Lentigo maligna serious?

Lentigo maligna is not dangerous; it only becomes potentially life threatening if an invasive melanoma develops within it. Long term follow-up involves reviewing the treated area and full skin examination to identify new lesions of concern. If the lesion was invasive, regional lymph nodes should also be examined.

Is Lentigo maligna cancerous?

What is lentigo maligna? Lentigo maligna is one type of the earliest stage of a skin cancer called melanoma. The word ‘melanoma’ comes from the Greek word ‘melas’, meaning black. Melanin is the dark pigment that gives the skin its natural colour and is made in the skin by pigment cells called melanocytes.

What does Lentigo maligna look like?

What causes lentigo maligna melanoma? The exact cause of lentigo maligna melanoma is unknown, but sun exposure is the biggest risk factor for developing it. That puts people with sun-damaged skin and those who spend a lot of time outside at a higher risk.

What is the difference between Lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ?

What are the symptoms of lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ? Lentigo maligna may appear as a long- standing discoloured patch of skin, most commonly on the face, which slowly enlarges and develops darker areas with in it. Most in situ melanomas do not cause any symptoms, but tingling or itching may occur.

Can lentigo maligna spread?

Lentigo maligna is a type of melanoma in situ. It is a slow growing lesion that appears in areas of skin that get a lot of sun exposure, such as the face or upper body. Because it grows slowly it can take years to develop. Similar to melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna has not spread and is only in the top layer of skin.

What is the difference between lentigo and lentigo maligna?

Lentigo maligna presents as a slowly growing or changing patch of discoloured skin. At first, it often resembles a freckle or benign lentigo. It becomes more distinctive and atypical in time, often growing to several centimetres over several years or even decades.

What is the treatment for lentigo maligna?

Background Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for lentigo maligna (LM), or melanoma in situ. Topical application of imiquimod, a local immune response modifier, is a novel therapeutic approach that leads to LM tumor clearance.

How fast does lentigo maligna melanoma spread?

In fact, a 2020 study in Melanoma Research found that it takes about 28.3 years on average for a precancerous lesion (called lentigo maligna) to turn into a cancerous lentigo maligna melanoma.

Is lentigo maligna melanoma curable?

With sufficiently early diagnosis and treatment, lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma are both curable forms of skin cancer. The key to treatment is catching the cancer as early as possible and preventing it from spreading to other areas of the body.

How do I get rid of lentigo?

To lighten or remove lentigines, your dermatologist might recommend one of these treatments:

1. medicines such as bleaching creams containing hydroquinone or retinoids (tretinoin)
2. chemical peels.
3. laser or intense pulse light therapy to destroy melanocytes.
4. freezing (cryotherapy) to destroy melanocytes.

Can lentigo maligna melanoma spread?

Lentigo maligna melanoma is an invasive form of skin cancer, but it is treatable if a doctor or dermatologist diagnoses it early. A person should, therefore, take any early signs or symptoms seriously and seek medical advice. In its early form, lentigo maligna, the cancer has not yet spread.

Is lentigo curable?

Lentigo is usually harmless. The spots are noncancerous. Over time, though, you can develop new spots — especially if your skin is exposed to the sun.