Acral Amelanotic Melanoma Mimicking a Foot Ulcer

Acral amelanotic melanoma can be difficult to diagnose and is often clinically aggressive. The present report describes a case of an acral amelanotic melanoma presenting as a non-healing wound after mimicking a plantar wart for two years. The decision to biopsy a borderline-suspicious lesion on the lower extremity in an elderly individual must be weighed carefully, as lower extremity biopsy carries a risk of poor wound healing and other complications. We discuss clinical and epidemiologic features that can assist in deciding when to perform a biopsy in this setting and can improve the early detection of acral amelanotic melanoma.