Lentigo Maligna

Lentigo maligna, also commonly called Lentiginous melanoma on sun-damaged skin, refers to a melanoma in situ, consisting of malignant cells but which do not reflect omnipresent growth for years, and progresses very slowly. The transition process to true melanoma is characterized by the emergence of a bumpy surface that marks down vertical growth and invasion, the stage being known as lentigo maligna melanoma. It usually affects the elderly on skin areas, highly exposed to sun, such as the face and forearms. Also referred to as ‘Hutchinson’s melanotic freckle’ named after Jonathan Hutchinson, lentigo maligna signifies bluish or blackish staining of skin at the onset, followed by epidermal atrophy and large number of melanocytes.