A Novel Two-Stage Treatment Of Lentigo Maligna Using Ablative Laser Therapy Followed By Imiquimod.

Br J Dermatol. 2012 Dec 18. doi: 10.1111/bjd.12157.
de Vries K, Rellum R, Habets JM, Prens EP.

Source

Erasmus Universtity Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands DermaTeam Clinic, Middelburg, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Lentigo maligna (LM) is a slowly growing premalignant skin cancer, typically arising in sun-exposed skin in elderly individuals. The lifetime risk of LM progressing to LM-melanoma varies from 4.7% to 2.2%.(1) The first treatment of choice for LM, is wide local excision with a margin of at least 5 mm, which leads to clearance rates of about 24 to 70% and recurrence rates of 7 to 20%.(2) Staged surgical excision is associated with recurrence rates of 0 to 9.7%, with mean follow-up periods of 4.7 to 96 months.(2) In some patients, surgical treatment will inevitably lead to large skin defects and complex surgical reconstructions.