title: [Levodopa and malignant melanoma--case report and review of the literature. A contribution to causal relationship between levodopa and the development of malignant melanoma].
abstract: A 72-years old man with Parkinson's disease was treated with levodopa for 14 years. A superficial spreading melanoma (Breslow depth 1,8 mm Clark level IV) was diagnosed, developing on the back from a pigment lesion which had present for more than 10 years. Other case reports suggest a relationship between the administration of levodopa and the growth of malignant melanoma. On the other hand, epidemiological studies found no correlation. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown a possible anti-tumor effect of levodopa. Critical analysis of the literature leads to the conclusion, that there is no increased melanoma risk from levodopa.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologische Klinik, Universitätsspital, Zürich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleinhans
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmid-Grendelmeier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa
vernacular_title: Levodopa und malignes Melanom--Fallbericht und Literaturübersicht. Ein Beitrag zur Frage des Kausalzusammenhanges zwischen Levodopa und der Entwicklung eines malignen Melanoms.