Acral lentiginous melanoma: 8 questions about this rare skin cancer
Source: MD Anderson Cancer Centre, September 2022
Many skin cancers — including cutaneous melanoma — are associated with UV exposure. Yet acral lentiginous melanoma develops only on areas of the body that can’t really be protected by sunscreen — and there’s no direct link to UV exposure.
So, what causes acral lentiginous melanoma? And how is it normally diagnosed and treated? To learn more about this rare skin cancer, we spoke with dermatologist Kelly Nelson, M.D., and melanoma specialist Isabella Glitza Oliva, M.D., Ph.D.
What is acral lentiginous melanoma?
Nelson: It’s a type of skin cancer that only develops on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet or under the nails.