Eczema‐Like Amelanotic Melanoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

ABSTRACT Amelanotic melanoma (AM) is a rare and aggressive variant of cutaneous melanoma characterised by the absence of pigmentation, often leading to delayed diagnosis due to its ability to mimic benign inflammatory or neoplastic conditions. We report the case of a 68‐year‐old woman presenting with a slowly enlarging, erythematous, mildly scaling patch on the left arm, previously misdiagnosed and treated as eczema and mycosis for 3 years without improvement. Dermoscopy revealed few non‐specific polymorphic vessels, while line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) demonstrated hyperkeratosis and atypical dark cells throughout the epidermis with dermal invasion. Histopathological examination confirmed amelanotic melanoma (Breslow thickness 1.1 mm, Clark level IV, pT2a). Wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy were performed, with no evidence of metastasis. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge posed by eczema‐like AM and underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and performing biopsy in persistent, treatment‐resistant erythematous lesions.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
JEADV Clinical Practice
Published
2026-09-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.70446
Primary Topic
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Eczema‐Like Amelanotic Melanoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

Valerio Ortenzi, Agata Janowska, Valentina Dini, Cristian Fidanzi et al.
JEADV Clinical Practice
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
article

Eczema‐Like Amelanotic Melanoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

Valerio Ortenzi, Agata Janowska, Valentina Dini, Cristian Fidanzi, Cristian Scatena, Marco Romanelli, Nicolò Mori, Andrea della Maggiora, Antonio Giuseppe Naccarato
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Amelanotic melanoma (AM) is a rare and aggressive variant of cutaneous melanoma characterised by the absence of pigmentation, often leading to delayed diagnosis due to its ability to mimic benign inflammatory or neoplastic conditions. We report the case of a 68‐year‐old woman presenting with a slowly enlarging, erythematous, mildly scaling patch on the left arm, previously misdiagnosed and treated as eczema and mycosis for 3 years without improvement. Dermoscopy revealed few non‐specific polymorphic vessels, while line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) demonstrated hyperkeratosis and atypical dark cells throughout the epidermis with dermal invasion. Histopathological examination confirmed amelanotic melanoma (Breslow thickness 1.1 mm, Clark level IV, pT2a). Wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy were performed, with no evidence of metastasis. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge posed by eczema‐like AM and underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and performing biopsy in persistent, treatment‐resistant erythematous lesions.

JEADV Clinical Practice
University of Pisa (IT)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Eczema‐Like Amelanotic Melanoma: A Diagnostic Challenge — Valerio Ortenzi, Agata Janowska, et al. · JEADV Clinical Practice (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS