Topical Imiquimod Treatment of Lentigo Maligna

• Author(s): Ventura, F ; Rocha, J ; Fernandes, JC ; Pardal, F ; Brito, C
• Date: 2009
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.23/149
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Hospital de Braga
• Subject(s): Neoplasias da Pele; Lentigo; Imiquimod
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Lentigo maligna (LM) is the in situ phase of lentigo maligna melanoma, which may progress to invasive melanoma if left untreated. It mainly occurs on sun-exposed areas of elderly patients. The lesions can be large and conventional surgery can be difficult, particularly on the face. Recent reports indicate that topical imiquimod 5% cream is effective in the treatment of LM. It may be an alternative when surgery or other classical treatments are not possible in elderly patients. We describe an 80-year-old Caucasian woman with a 10-year history of a histologically verified extensive LM of the face. She was treated with imiquimod 5% cream once daily. After four months it showed complete clinical response. One year after the treatment the patient was still free from recurrence.