What Is Acral Lentiginous Melanoma?
Acral lentiginous melanoma is a form of skin cancer commonly affecting people with dark skin. It is usually found in areas of the body where there is less hair growth, such as the palms, the soles of the feet, under the fingers and toe nails, and in the mucous membranes. The condition is generally asymptomatic or does not have any symptoms, and is often diagnosed late in a person’s life. Patients with acral lentiginous melanoma frequently observe dark spots on the skin, which look like a bruise. People with dark skin, especially Africans, Asians and black people from North America, are more predisposed to developing this type of skin cancer. There is equal occurrence in men and women. The disease may affect any age group, however, acral lentiginous melanoma is most often diagnosed during the sixth or seventh decades of life.
