Acral Lentiginous Melanoma

Hong Li and Xilin Liu

Department of Rehabilitation, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, China
Department of Hand Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, China

^*Correspondance to: Xilin Liu 

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Abstract:

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM) was first defined by Reed as pigmented lesions occurring on the extremities. Although ALM is a relatively rare form of melanoma and accounts for approximately 4% to 6% of all melanoma cases in white patients, it represents the most common expression of melanoma patterns in people with darker skins and Asians. The patients with ALM are prone to have a poor prognosis which may be mainly caused by delayed diagnosis and a particular aggressiveness of ALM. Although the etiology of ALM is poorly understood, it has been reported that melanocytic nevi and trauma are the risk factors associated with ALM and the growing trend occurrence of the melanomas may be related to outdoor workplace. Moreover, exposure to the sun and agricultural chemicals were also the risk factors of ALM, and the more opportunities to expose to the direct sunlight, the larger numbers of nevus would be developed, particularly in kids. ALM, which is darkly pigmented, blue-black macules or nodules with irregular borders, often arises in the least pigmented areas on the volar surface of the hands, feet, fingers, toes and subungual sites. The diagnosis of ALM should be considered fully a dynamic view of melanoma growth and the clinicians should be familiar with the comprehensive knowledge of the tumor location. Wide local excision to achieve negative margins has been recognized as the conventional treatment for all kinds of ALM. Novel treatments such as chemo immunotherapy, biologic therapy and targeted agents are being applied in patients with advanced ALM and they have acquired some promising preliminary results. Earlier diagnosis of ALM is imperative so as physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion and carry out comprehensive physical examinations for all vulnerable populations.

Keywords:

Acral lentiginous melanoma; Extremity; Pathogenesis; Diagnosis; Novel treatment

Cite the Article:

Li H, Liu X. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma. Clin Oncol. 2018; 3: 1548.