View pictures of amelanotic melanoma in the gallery below. Amelanotic melanoma is a form of melanoma in which the malignant cells have little to no pigment. Patients with amelanotic melanoma showed poorer disease-specific survival (DSS) than those with melanotic melanoma in a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database analysis.

Understanding the Context

Amelanotic melanoma (hypomelanotic melanoma) is a form of skin cancer in which the malignant cells produce little to no pigment, unlike melanomas, which are characteristically dark due to the presence of melanin. What is amelanotic melanoma? Amelanotic melanoma is a form of melanoma in which the malignant cells produce little to no pigment. What are the clinical features of amelanotic melanoma?

Key Insights

Amelanotic melanomas are classically described as skin coloured. A significant proportion of melanomas are red or pink. Typical early lesions present as asymmetrical macules that may be uniformly pink or red and ... Amelanotic melanoma is a form of melanoma in which the malignant cells have little to no pigment. The term 'amelanotic' is often used to indicate lesions that are only partially devoid of pigment while truly amelanotic melanoma where lesions lack all pigment is rare.

Final Thoughts

Amelanotic melanoma Amelanotic melanoma can be difficult to diagnose by dermoscopy. It should be considered if there is history of change within an odd-looking pink lesion. There is nearly always a small amount of focal and irregular pigmentation, often on the periphery of the lesion. These features may miss nodular melanoma (symmetrical, dome-shaped, single colour) and amelanotic melanoma (pink or red without pigmentation). Some subjects with sun damage or atypical naevi have several or many lesions with irregular shape and colour. It may be prudent to remove the most odd-looking lesion for histopathology.

What is amelanotic melanoma? Amelanotic melanoma is a form of melanoma in which the malignant cells produce little to no pigment. Read more