Trauma and melanoma formation: a true association?
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the role of mechanical trauma in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma. In individual patients, traumatic events have been discussed as a causative factor for the induction of melanoma and diagnosis of melanoma following trauma may raise medico-legal questions.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between traumatic single or recurrent events and melanoma characteristics.


METHODS
Retrospective questionnaire in 369 melanoma patients.


RESULTS
A large number of patients (337 of 369; 91.3%) denied an association between a possible traumatic event and melanoma formation. Thirty-two of 369 patients (8.7%) considered an association of trauma and melanoma formation likely. Of these 32 patients, 22 patients (13 men, nine women) reported a single event, and 10 patients (four men, six women) a persisting irritation. An irritation of a pre-existing melanocytic naevus was reported by two patients with histologically confirmed melanoma on acquired or congenital naevus.


CONCLUSIONS
As most of the patients who mentioned a trauma in this study suffered from acral melanoma, or melanoma located on the extremities, a history of trauma should be expected more frequently at these body sites. A review of epidemiological, clinical and scientific research indicates that there seems to be no evidence for single or persistent traumatic events as a causative factor for melanoma formation.
Kaskel
P
P
Department of Dermatology, University of Ulm, 89070 Ulm/Donau, Germany. peter.kaskel@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Kind
P
P
Sander
S
S
Peter
R U
RU
Krähn
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology