Re: Melanocytic nevi, solar keratoses, and divergent pathways to cutaneous melanoma.

Abstract

Whiteman et al. (1), studying a predominantly fair-skinned population, sug-gested that cutaneous melanomas may arise through two pathways: one associated with melanocyte proliferation and the other with chronic exposure to sunlight. Elwood and Gallagher (2) reported that, in individuals younger than 50 years, intermittent sun exposure had a greater potential for producing melanoma than continuous exposure, although in those who are older, melanoma was more common on body sites with continuous sun exposure. Only lentigo maligna melanoma occurs almost exclusively on the face, even at younger ages (2).