Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM)
Lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) is a rare form of cancer constituting just 4%. It is also the slowest growing skin cancer. The cancer generally has a long radial spread time. It often reaches 3-6 cm or greater in diameter. It is mostly confined to the epidermis or the upper skin layer. Lentigo maligna is the first stage and can last for years. During the first stage, the melanoma is present in situ, which is why metastasis is rare.
Lentigo maligna melanoma is the second stage which begins when the existing tumor starts growing vertically. In general, LM has a respectable prognosis. However, the outcome reduces when it enters the second stage to become LMM. Another rare form of melanoma is known as desmoplastic. This grows along with LMM, which doesn’t have a respectable prognosis.
Almost 50% desmoplastic melanomas appear scar-like and are amelanotic when compared to LMM. It’s prudent to have both pigmented and non-pigmented segments of lesions examined without any delay.
Texas Surgical Dermatology, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen, provides treatments for lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) skin cancer to patients in Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma Diagnosis
Doctors often refer patients to dermatologists for diagnosis since they are better at distinguishing between benign skin growths, such as moles or other serious conditions. Typically, the specialist will ask the patient about their symptoms and observations made by them over time. They will examine the patient’s skin too.
The dermatologist, in certain cases, may make a preliminary diagnosis based on physical examination. They may recommend removing a part of the potentially affected skin before testing for LMM as a precaution. The dermatologist may carry out a biopsy in other cases by taking a small sample of the cancerous tissue for testing. Technicians will analyze the sample for determining whether cancer is present or not.
LMM Treatment Options
Your doctor will assess appropriate treatment options if you have LMM. Treatment options will vary depending on how far the cancer has spread and its stage. Treatment goals generally include:
- Preventing the recurrence of cancer
- Curing the cancer
- Preserving the skin appearance
The usual treatment for LMM involves removal of the growth. Your treatment provider will remove the affected skin area and an additional 5mm of surrounding skin. In some cases, the growth may occur on a body part where removal is difficult. In such cases, the doctor may choose a different option for treatment, such as:
- imiquimod cream (Aldara)
- cryosurgery
- radiation
Treatment Outlook
Lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma are curable with early diagnosis and treatment. The key here is to catch the cancer early and take steps to prevent it from spreading to other body parts. The patient generally has a positive outlook in these situations.
Early Diagnosis is Crucial
Lentigo maligna melanoma is a form of invasive skin cancer. However, it’s treatable if the dermatologist or doctor diagnoses it before the cancer has a chance to spread to other body tissues.
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen at Texas Surgical Dermatology receives patients from Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and nearby areas for lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) skin cancer treatment.
For More Information contact our Board Certified in Dermatologists at Texas Surgical Dermatology in Spring, TX
For more information on procedures and treatments offered at Texas Surgical Dermatology PA please call 832.663.6566 or click here to contact our dermatologists. Helping patients in Houston, The Woodlands, Spring, Katy and other surrounding areas of Texas.
