Dermoscopic features and management strategy of a 10-year history acral lentiginous melanoma in a 55-year-old Filipino

ABSTRACT

Introduction@#Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is the most common type of cutaneous melanoma in Asians that is not associated with ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure. Dermoscopy enables clinicians to distinguish between benign and malignant acral melanocytic lesions, with some dermoscopic characteristics playing a role in staging and have prognostic implications, which allows for appropriate surgical intervention. The difficulty of making an early diagnosis of ALM is highlighted by this case. ALM’s destructive nature, alongside the patient’s lack of awareness and vigilance, and healthcare access inequality, influences its prognosis. @*Case Report@#This is a case of a long-standing acral lentiginous melanoma with no palpable lymphadenopathies in which it was not immediately detected through biopsy. Upon detection, wide excision with 2 cm margins and disarticulation of the 5th digit of the right foot reconstructed with a fasciocutaneous advancement flap with split thickness skin graft, grafted from the right anterior thigh was done.