Hunting malignant melanoma behind a tattoo

Dr Aksana Marozava

A 56-year-old woman with a past history of melanoma presents for a routine six-monthly skin examination.

A 3mm papule with a slightly elevated contour is noted within a tattoo on her thigh (figure 1a, the cross hairs of a sniper rifle are Photoshopped onto a 3mm-diameter papule).