# Acral melanoma of the heel mimicking a pressure sore

## TL;DR

A melanoma on the heel was mistaken for a pressure sore, highlighting the importance of considering cancer in similar-looking wounds.

## Contribution

This case emphasizes the need to consider acral melanoma in the differential diagnosis of wounds in typical pressure ulcer areas.

## Key findings

- An 83-year-old patient's heel melanoma was initially misdiagnosed as a pressure ulcer.
- Delayed diagnosis led to more complicated treatment outcomes.
- The case suggests that acral melanoma may be underdiagnosed in rural areas with poor healthcare.

## Abstract

The clinical appearance of acral melanoma is diverse and can cause diagnostic difficulties in individual cases.

We present a clinical case of an 83-year-old patient with a melanoma in the heel area that was initially interpreted as a pressure ulcer, resulting in delayed and more complicated treatment.

Melanomas should be included in the differential diagnosis even in “typical” pressure ulcer areas. Against the background of increasingly poor healthcare in rural areas, an increase in such cases can be expected.