Open AccessMore than just acral melanoma: the controversies of defining the disease
Author(s) -
Bernardes Sara S,
Ferreira Ingrid,
Elder David E,
Nobre Aretha B,
MartínezSaid Héctor,
Adams David J,
RoblesEspinoza Carla Daniela,
Possik Patricia A
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of pathology: clinical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.849
H-Index - 21
ISSN - 2056-4538
DOI - 10.1002/cjp2.233
Subject(s) - dermatology , melanoma , acral lentiginous melanoma , medicine , disease , nail (fastener) , pathology , cancer research , materials science , metallurgy
Acral melanoma (AM) is a malignant cutaneous melanocytic tumour specifically located on the palms, soles, and nail apparatus, which are areas of glabrous (hairless) skin. Acral lentiginous melanoma, a subtype of AM, represents a histopathological subtype diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma with unique morphological and structural features. Despite clear definitions, the misuse of these terms and the inconsistency in reporting the histopathological features of AM cases have become a major obstacle to the study of the disease. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, histopathological features, prognosis, and genetic profile of AM, highlighting the differences observed when histopathological subtypes are considered. The increasing global effort to characterise AM cases from ethnically diverse populations would benefit greatly from a more consistent classification of the disease.