[Micrographic surgery of lentigo maligna]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Lentigo maligna is an early-stage melanoma typically found on sun-exposed skin of the head and neck.
• Clinical assessment of lentigo maligna borders often inaccurately reflects the true extent of the cancerous cells.
• Standard surgical excision for lentigo maligna uses a 5 mm margin but lacks real-time histological confirmation of complete removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of micrographic surgery for lentigo maligna.
• To compare micrographic surgery with standard excision in achieving clear histological margins.
• To highlight the benefits of tissue-sparing techniques in melanoma treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of cases treated with micrographic surgery for lentigo maligna.
• Comparison of recurrence rates and margin status between micrographic surgery and standard excision.
• Histopathological analysis of surgical margins.

Main Results:

• Micrographic surgery provides definitive histological margin control, ensuring complete tumor removal.
• Standard excision frequently results in incomplete tumor removal due to inaccurate clinical demarcation.
• Micrographic surgery demonstrates a lower risk of recurrence compared to standard excision for lentigo maligna.

Conclusions:

• Micrographic surgery is the preferred treatment for lentigo maligna, offering superior outcomes.
• The technique ensures complete eradication of cancerous cells and minimizes cosmetic defects.
• Histological margin control is crucial for preventing recurrence of lentigo maligna.