Acral Lentiginous Melanoma of the Foot Misdiagnosed as a Traumatic Ulcer

Abstract

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is rising faster than that of almost any other cancer in the United States. Acral lentiginous melanoma is a subtype of melanoma that involves the palms, soles, and nail beds. Although it is one of the rarer types of melanoma, it has a poorer prognosis than other more common subtypes. We describe a case of plantar acral melanoma in a 66-year-old woman that was initially misdiagnosed as a traumatic foot ulcer. We highlight this case to emphasize the importance of close observation and biopsy of ulcerative lesions of the foot that have atypical features or are refractory to standard treatment.