concern

LENTIGO MALIGNA MELANOMA

(LEN·TEE·GOW MUH·LIG·NUH MEH·LUH·NOW·MUH)

WHAT IS LENTIGO MALIGNA MELANOMA?

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma is a rare type of skin cancer that typically affects older, fair-skinned people and appears as a brown patch on the skin.

This skin condition stems from Lentigo maligna (also known as “Hutchinson’s melanotic freckle”) which develops on the outer surface of the skin. When it begins growing beneath the skin’s surface, it then becomes Lentigo Maligna Melanoma.

When it develops, it tends to remain on the same layer of skin for years before it affects nearby tissue.

While Melanoma is known to grow and spread quickly, this skin condition behaves differently and can take years to develop into a cancerous lesion.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma is linked to sun exposure over a longer period of time and most commonly appears in areas that would be constantly exposed to sunlight like the head and neck.

WHO IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP IT?

This condition most often appears in older people and the elderly due to the fact they have accumulated more time with direct sunlight.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

It appears as:

– A brown lesion
– Smooth in texture that is similar to the surrounding area
– Larger than 3 cm across

Once it becomes invasive it may:

– Change in the color to be darker brown or black
– Have a blue/black portion that is raised
– Will have a different texture from the surrounding tissue