Histopathological characteristics of subsequent melanomas in patients with multiple primary melanomas

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2014-01, Vol.28 (1), p.58-64
• Main Authors: Vecchiato, A., Pasquali, S., Menin, C., Montesco, M.C., Alaibac, M., Mocellin, S., Campana, L.G., Nitti, D., Rossi, C.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Melanoma - pathology; Prospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12055

Background  Multiple primary melanomas (MPM) occur in up to 20% of melanoma patients, and subsequent tumours seem to have a favourable histopathological pattern. Objective  A prospectively collected cohort of 194 patients with MPM was retrospectively reviewed to investigate clinical and histopathological features of first and subsequent melanomas. Methods  Patients with MPM who were diagnosed at our Department (1985–2011) and who attended at least a follow‐up control yearly were identified. Results  The number of nevi was 50 in 8.7%, 41% and 50.3% of patients respectively. Histopathological dysplastic nevi have been diagnosed in 105 patients. During a median follow‐up of 58 months, 159 (81.9%), 24 (12.3%), 7 (3.6%) and 4 (2%) patients developed 2, 3, 4 and ≥5 melanomas, respectively. The median time to second primary melanoma was 45 months. The second primary melanoma was diagnosed within 1‐year and after 5‐year from the first melanoma in 36.6% and 17.3% of patients respectively. First and second primary melanomas were in situ in 41 (21%) and 104 (54%) patients respectively (P