The Anatomical Distribution of Lentiginous Melanoma: Differences According to Sex
April 2023
in “
Australasian Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Lentiginous melanoma is most common on the face, especially the nose, cheek, and pre-auricular areas, with men more likely to have it on the scalp, ears, upper back, and trapezius, and women on the cheek and anterior arm. Sun damage is a key factor in its formation.
The study analyzed 1782 cases of lentiginous melanoma from 1994 to 2021 and found that the highest incidence rate per unit area was in central facial subsites, specifically the nose, cheek, and pre-auricular areas. The lowest incidence was in the lower limb. Men had a higher incidence in the anterior and posterior scalp, ears, upper back, and trapezius, possibly due to higher rates of androgenic alopecia causing hair loss in these areas. Women had a higher incidence in the cheek and anterior arm. The highest incidence for both sexes was at the head and neck sites, suggesting sun damage as a key factor in lentiginous melanoma formation. The study's limitations include referral bias and its retrospective nature. The findings may aid in diagnosing and monitoring these skin cancers and highlight the importance of photoprotection.
