The diagnosis of Hutchinson's melanotic freckle (lentigo maligna) in Queensland.

Following an increase in the reported incidence of melanoma of Hutchinson's melanotic freckle type (HMFM) in Queensland, a review of its histological diagnosis was undertaken. Ninety-nine pigmented lesions reported by 13 different pathology laboratories throughout Queensland as having an in-situ component of Hutchinson's melanotic freckle (HMF) were reviewed by 2 pathologists with an interest in malignant melanoma. This diagnosis was confirmed in 76 cases while in a further 3 the reviewers regarded the in-situ component as indeterminate. It would seem that the level of agreement among pathologists reporting HMF(M) should be considered in any assessment of incidence patterns of melanoma.