Extrafacial lentigo maligna: A progression model and enhanced diagnostic techniques using dermatoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy

Abstract

Lentigo maligna (LM) is a subtype of lentiginous melanoma confined to the epidermis, which is associated with chronic sun exposure. Its clinical, dermatoscopic, and histopathological diagnosis can be challenging, particularly in the early and advanced stages, requiring appropriate clinicopathological correlation. This article reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis through noninvasive methods (dermoscopy and confocal microscopy), and provides insights for diagnosis of extrafacial LM through the presentation of four representative clinical cases from different phases of a theoretical–practical progression model. Recognizing these lesions is crucial, as once they invade the dermis, they can behave like any other type of melanoma.