Lentigo maligna stays on the outer surface of the skin. When it starts growing beneath the skin’s surface, it becomes lentigo maligna melanoma. It’s the least common type of melanoma. Lentigo maligna grows slowly and is usually harmless, but lentigo maligna melanoma can spread aggressively.

Lentigo maligna is the precursor to a subtype of melanoma called lentigo maligna melanoma, which is a cancerous (malignant) growth of the cells that give our skin cells color.

Lentigo maligna melanoma is a rare type of melanoma skin cancer, accounting for about 5 percent of all melanomas, according to the NCI. It’s also sometimes called Hutchinson’s melanotic freckle.

Lentigo maligna can be cured with surgery. However, if the whole area is not removed completely with the appropriate surgery, some may develop into an invasive melanoma. It is therefore important to have it removed with a rim of normal skin (an adequate surgical margin).

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.

Lentigo maligna melanoma is most often found on sun-exposed skin in the head and neck of middle-aged and elderly persons (see the image below), and is slightly more common in women. Approximately 10-30% of all cutaneous melanoma arise in this region.

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.

Lentigo maligna is treated with surgery. The standard and preferred treatment is surgical excision. However, various nonsurgical modalities are available to patients in whom surgical therapy is not feasible, including cryotherapy and immune response therapy with topical imiquimod.

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.

Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.

To lighten or remove lentigines, your dermatologist might recommend one of these treatments: medicines such as bleaching creams containing hydroquinone or retinoids (tretinoin) chemical peels. laser or intense pulse light therapy to destroy melanocytes.

How is Lentigo Maligna Melanoma Diagnosed? A thorough history and a complete physical exam by a physician are crucial for the diagnosis of Lentigo Maligna Melanoma. Sun exposure for a long duration is usually noted by the healthcare provider.

lentigo maligna. noun. lentigo ma·​lig·​na | // -mə-ˈlig-nə //. : a precancerous lesion on the skin especially in areas exposed to the sun (as the face) that is flat, mottled, and brownish with an irregular outline and grows slowly over a period of years.

Malignant melanoma can have a variety of physical characteristics. Some melanomas are small, hard bumps on the surface of the skin, while others show up as flat, black marks underneath a fingernail.