Case 3

A 51-year-old female presented with a 10-year history of a pigmented lesion on the left lower leg. Examination showed a symmetrical, pigmented lesion 6 mm in diameter, with gray coloration, scaling surface, focal crusting, rim of erythema and a smooth border (Figure 5).

None of the patient's other lesions appeared crusted or inflamed. Clinically, it was thought to be an irritated melanocytic nevus; however the history of persistent crusting led to a punch excision.

Histopathologic investigation demonstrated irregular proliferation of atypical melanocytes at the dermal-epidermal junction with invasion into the dermis to a depth of 0.65 mm (Breslow), Clark's Level III (Figures 6a, 6b).

Figure 6a A scanning magnification view intended to show, in the left one half, an intradermal sheet of atypical melanocytes interspersed with melanophages.
Figure 6b A close-up view highlighting a mitotic figure (arrow) in the center of the intradermal sheet of atypical melanocytes.

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made.

© 1999 Dermatology Online Journal