Which melanoma subtype is the most common overall?

• A. Superficial spreading
• B. Nodular
• C. Lentigo maligna
• D. Acral lentiginous

Answer: (A)

Melanoma subtypes differ in how often they occur, and the most common form across populations is superficial spreading melanoma. This subtype tends to have a prolonged radial growth phase on sun-exposed skin, which means lesions can spread horizontally across the epidermis for a while before invading deeper tissues. That pattern makes superficial spreading melanoma the one clinicians encounter most often in practice.

Nodular melanoma is also an important type but occurs less frequently and tends to grow more quickly in the vertical direction, making it appear thicker sooner. Lentigo maligna is more typical on the faces of older individuals with long-standing sun damage and is less common overall. Acral lentiginous melanoma occurs on palms, soles, or under nails and is relatively rare in many populations, though it is more prevalent in certain ethnic groups.