Almut Böer1, Manfred Wolter, Roland Kaufmann. 1. Zentrum der Dermatologie und Venerologie, Klinikum der J. W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main. boer@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The increasing use of lasers for the removal of pigmented skin lesions has led to a growing risk of erroneously treated malignant melanocytic tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In two patients, both of whom developed a melanoma, the lesions were initially misdiagnosed clinically as a benign naevus and treated with laser vaporisation. RESULTS: On recurrence of the tumours, the diagnosis of melanoma was finally established by histological examination of the excised tumours in which differentiation from pseudomelanoma remained difficult. CONCLUSIONS: In such cases of initially misdiagnosed melanomas, laser removal not only complicates and delays the correct diagnosis but might also worsen the prognosis after recurrence of an incompletely removed tumour.
BACKGROUND: The increasing use of lasers for the removal of pigmented skin lesions has led to a growing risk of erroneously treated malignant melanocytic tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In two patients, both of whom developed a melanoma, the lesions were initially misdiagnosed clinically as a benign naevus and treated with laser vaporisation. RESULTS: On recurrence of the tumours, the diagnosis of melanoma was finally established by histological examination of the excised tumours in which differentiation from pseudomelanoma remained difficult. CONCLUSIONS: In such cases of initially misdiagnosed melanomas, laser removal not only complicates and delays the correct diagnosis but might also worsen the prognosis after recurrence of an incompletely removed tumour.