title: Malignant melanoma in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sun-induced malignancies (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) are common in oculocutaneous albinism, however, the incidence of malignant melanoma is a topic of controversy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We have reviewed the literature and report a case of a woman with oculocutaneous albinism with an amelanotic melanoma of the anterior chest wall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are only 26 previously reported cases (both case reports and African albino population studies) in 25 patients in the literature. A 27th case with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evaluation is presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that melanoma, a malignancy for which sun exposure and light colouration are felt to be major risk factors, has a low incidence among a population that is both hypopigmented and often exposed to high levels of ultraviolet light. This low incidence is poorly understood and frequently disputed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Streutker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCready
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jimbow
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: From
mesh_terms: D016115:Albinism, Oculocutaneous / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001365:Axilla; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology