lentigo maligna melanoma - definition of lentigo maligna melanoma in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

melanoma /mel·a·no·ma/ (mel″ah-no´mah) a tumor arising from the melanocytic system of the skin and other organs; used alone, it refers to malignant m..

acral-lentiginous melanoma an irregular, enlarging black macule with a prolonged noninvasive stage, occurring chiefly on the palms and soles; it is the most common type of melanoma in nonwhite persons.

amelanotic melanoma an unpigmented malignant melanoma.

juvenile melanoma spindle and epithelioid cell nevus.

lenti´go malig´na melanoma a cutaneous malignant melanoma arising in the site of a preexisting lentigo maligna, occurring on sun exposed areas, particularly of the face.

malignant melanoma a malignant tumor usually developing from a nevus or lentigo maligna and consisting of black masses of cells with a marked tendency to metastasis.

nodular melanoma a type of malignant melanoma without a perceptible radial growth phase, usually occurring on the head, neck, or trunk as a uniformly pigmented, elevated, bizarrely colored, rapidly enlarging nodule that ulcerates.

ocular melanoma malignant melanoma arising from the structures of the eye, frequently metastasizing and rapidly causing death.

subungual melanoma acral-lentiginous melanoma in the nail fold or bed.

superficial spreading melanoma malignant melanoma characterized by a period of radial growth atypical of epidermal melanocytes, which may be followed by invasive growth or may regress; it usually occurs as a small pigmented macule or papule with irregular outline on the lower leg or back.

uveal melanoma ocular melanoma consisting of overgrowth of uveal melanocytes.

lentigo maligna melanoma,

a neoplasm developing from Hutchinson's freckle on the face or other exposed surfaces of the skin in elderly patients. It is asymptomatic, flat, and tan or brown, with irregular darker spots and frequent hypopigmentation. It is one of the major clinical types of melanoma and occurs in 10% to 15% of melanoma patients. See also nodular melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma.