Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is the rarest subtype of cutaneous melanoma, primarily affecting the palms, soles, and nail units. Unlike other melanoma subtypes, ALM is thought to be associated with mechanical stress and chronic trauma rather than ultraviolet exposure. In elderly patients, inadequate routine examination of the plantar region may lead to delayed diagnosis and advanced-stage presentation. We report the case of a 74-year-old female who presented with a painful lesion on the right plantar foot that developed following a thorn injury. Dermoscopic examination revealed diffuse variegated pigmentation, peppering, atypical dots and globules, ulceration, and regression areas. Histopathologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of ALM, with a Breslow thickness of 15 mm. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) demonstrated increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the right inguinal-femoral lymph nodes; however, histopathologic examination of the excised lymph nodes showed no evidence of malignancy. This case underscores the clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic features of ALM and highlights the importance of careful plantar examination for early diagnosis, particularly in elderly patients. Key words: plantar melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma, cutaneous oncology, melanoma diagnosis
Conflict of interest : The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Mevlana Tıp Bilimleri 2026, Vol6, Issue2 E-ISSN: 2757-976X
Received : , Accepted : , Published Online :
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