Amelanotic melanoma in a tattoo: A great masquerader

Amelanotic malignant melanoma (AMM) is a rare and diagnostically challenging variant, especially when located on tattooed skin, where visual clues may be obscured. We report the case of a young male patient with AMM over a deltoid tattoo, initially misdiagnosed as a benign lesion.

Histopathology revealed melanoma in situ with a Breslow thickness of 0.7 mm. This case deviates from the typical AMM profile and raises questions about the potential role of tattoos in skin carcinogenesis. Although a causal link is unproven, the rising prevalence of tattoos highlights the need for clinical vigilance and further research into this possible association.

Keywords: Melanoma; Melanoma, Amelanotic; Tattooing