Definition
Lentigo maligna is a type of skin cancer (or melanoma) typical of senescence; more precisely, lentigo maligna appears in the face of the elderly, and appears as a hyperpigmented spot. If the stain affects even the deepest layers of the skin, we speak precisely of melanoma-lentigo maligna.
Causes
In light of recent studies, a certain direct correlation was observed between the onset of lentigo maligna with predisposing factors, such as basal cell carcinoma, pigmented / seborrheic actinic keratosis, sun exposure, genetic predisposition and the presence of a nevus pigmented on the skin.
Symptoms
Lentigo maligna is rather simple to identify: even if it does not give symptoms of any kind, the observation of an expert doctor identifies with certainty the presence or absence of an abnormal mass on the skin. Lentigo maligna appears as a dark spot of abnormal size, covered with dark dots. At first the spots are small, but with age they can grow larger.
Complications: magnification of the spots, diffusion in other parts of the body, metastases, nodules, papules.
Information on Lentigo Maligna - Drugs for the Treatment of Lentigo Maligna is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Lentigo Maligna - Lentigo Maligna Drugs.
drugs
The therapeutic options for the treatment of lentigo maligna are varied and heavily influenced by several factors:
- Extension of lentigo maligna
- Spread extension speed
- Health conditions of the sick patient
Surgical resection of lentigo maligna is probably the most exploited therapeutic option to permanently remove the stain from the skin; a skin graft will be useful to reconstruct the flap of removed skin. When surgery is not possible, the curettage could be a valid alternative: it is a technique of exclusively medical competence, not excessively painful, consisting in the removal of the diseased papule.
If it is not possible to subject the patient to actual surgery or curettage, the doctor may propose more options:
- Cryotherapy: cold therapy consisting of the application of liquid nitrogen on the skin, capable of burning the diseased tissue, consequently, the diseased cells are induced to lysis.
- Radiotherapy: uses radiation (X-rays) to destroy diseased cells that affect lentigo maligna. It is not always possible to use this technique.
- Chemotherapy and immunological therapy: used, in particular, for expanded lentigo maligna at the lymph node level.
- Imiquimod (eg. Aldara): the drug is a modulator of the immune response, therefore - in addition to being used in therapy for the treatment of condylomata acuminata and in actinic keratosis - it is also applied in the treatment of lentigo maligna. The drug should be applied directly on the injured anatomical area: it is available in 250 mg cream bags, each containing 12.5 mg of active ingredient. Generally, the product should be applied 3-5 times a week for 6-16 weeks. Consult your doctor.
- Interleukin-2 (eg Proleukin): it is one of the drugs used in immunotherapy to stimulate the immune system against diseased cells. This drug is able to stimulate an inflammatory response at the local level. Indicatively, the dosage - always established with precision by the doctor - is 0.037 mg / kg of body weight intravenously every 8 hours. Do not repeat the administration more than 14 times. As an alternative to Interleukin-2, interferon (eg Betaferon, Avonex) and the Calmette-Guerin bacillus are also sometimes used in therapy for the same purpose.
- Temozolomide (Ex. Temodal, Temozolomide Hospira, Temozolomide, Temozolomide Sun, Temozolomide Hexal): the dosage of this drug should be carefully established by the attending physician, based on the stage of progress and the severity of lentigo maligna; in general, the active ingredient is indicated for patients with lentigo maligna in the metastatic stage. The drug can be used in combination with radiation therapy.
- Dacarbazine (eg. Daunoblastina, DaunoXome): take 2-4.5 mg / kg of drug intravenously, once a day for 10 days. Repeat the administration every 4 weeks. Alternatively, take 250 mg / m2 once a day for 5 days and repeat this pattern every 3 weeks. Indicated in the case of lentigo maligna in the metastatic phase.
Notes: some vaccines have also been studied for the prevention of lentigo maligna; unfortunately, however, it seems that none of them has reported satisfactory results to prevent the disease. However, probably the administration of GM-CSF (the granulocyte stimulating factor) could slow the progression of lentigo maligna.
