Acral lentiginous melanoma misdiagnosed as verruca plantaris: a case report

The ratio of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) to all melanomas among Caucasians is small, although this type of malignant melanocytic neoplasm comprises the majority of melanomas among those who have darker skin tone. Because of frequently atypical clinical morphology, and as a consequence of their relative rarity, ALM is often misdiagnosed. This case demonstrates the disastrous consequences of prolonged treatment of an ALM presumed to be a plantar wart. Pedal lesions require close observation and prompt biopsy when diagnostic uncertainty exists or when therapeutic interventions fail.