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Subungual acrolentiginous amelanotic melanoma treated with amputation of the distal and middle phalanges


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Summary

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is an uncommon melanoma type among Caucasions. ALM bears an unfavorable prognosis because of late presentation or common misdiagnosis. Amelanotic variants, albeit rare, may pose an additional clinical challenge and may further delay the diagnosis and treatment. Thus, the threshold for biopsying even marginally suspicious lesions should be low. We present two cases of Caucasian patients with amelanotic subungual ALM, stage 2a and 2c respectively, successfully treated with a functional amputation.

Zusammenfassung

Das akolentiginöse Melanom (ALM) ist unter Kaukasiern eher selten. ALM ist mit einer ungünstigen Prognose verknüpft infolge verzögerter Diagnose und von Fehldiagnosen. Seine amelanotische Variante ist selten, führt jedoch häufiger zu weiterer diagnostischer Verzögerung. Deshalb sollten verdächtige Läsionen frühzeitig bioptiert werden. Wir stellen 2 Patienten mit amelanotischem ALM, Stadium 2a und 2c, vor, die mittels funktioneller Amputation erfolgreich behandelt wurden.

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Conflict of interest


The authors have no financial interest in this manuscript and no affiliations (relationship) to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Territorial Medicine, Section of Dermatology, University of Messina, C/O Institute of Dermatology, Policlinico Universitario “G. MARTINO”, Via Consolare Valeria—Gazzi, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Claudio Guarneri MD

  2. Dermatology Unit at AORNAS “Garibaldi” Hospital and Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, C/O Dermatology Unit, “G. GARIBALDI” Hospital, P.zza Santa Maria del Gesu, 95100, Catania, Italy

    Valentina Bevelacqua MD, PhD

  3. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University Sofia, Alexandrovksa Hospital, Gеоrgi Sofiiski street 1, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Kristina Semkova MD, PhD

  4. Policlinic of Dermatology and Venerology, Saint Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, University Hospital Lozenetz, Koziak street 1, 1407, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Georgi Tchernev MD, PhD

  5. Hand Surgery Unit, Department of Trauma Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, and Hand Surgery, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Friedrichstrasse 41, 01067, Dresden, Germany

    Sven Tempel Dipl.-Med

  6. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Friedrichstrasse 41, 01067, Dresden, Germany

    Uwe Wollina MD

Authors
  1. Claudio Guarneri MD
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  2. Valentina Bevelacqua MD, PhD
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  3. Kristina Semkova MD, PhD
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  4. Georgi Tchernev MD, PhD
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  5. Sven Tempel Dipl.-Med
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  6. Uwe Wollina MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Uwe Wollina MD.

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Guarneri, C., Bevelacqua, V., Semkova, K. et al. Subungual acrolentiginous amelanotic melanoma treated with amputation of the distal and middle phalanges
. Wien Med Wochenschr 163, 368–371 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-013-0194-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-013-0194-4

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