Association of melanoma and neurocutaneous melanocytosis with large congenital melanocytic naevi--results from the NYU-LCMN registry.
BACKGROUND
Large congenital melanocytic naevi (LCMN), which develop in utero and are present in approximately one in 20,000 newborns, are associated with markedly increased risks of cutaneous melanoma, leptomeningeal melanoma and neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM).


OBJECTIVE
This study examined clinical characteristics associated with melanoma and NCM among patients with LCMN, and estimated the risk of developing melanoma and NCM in these patients.


METHODS
Two hundred and five LCMN patients enrolled in the New York University registry were studied. One hundred and seventy of these patients were followed prospectively. The remaining 35 patients had either melanoma at the time of entry into the registry (n = 6), or had insufficient follow-up information (n = 29). The outcome measures were the occurrence of melanoma and NCM. The associations between these outcomes and the clinical covariates (anatomical location of the LCMN, size of the LCMN, number of satellite lesions, family history of melanoma, patient sex and treatment) were assessed.


RESULTS
Four of 170 (2.3%) prospectively followed patients developed melanomas, representing a standardized morbidity ratio of 324. Among the entire cohort (n = 205), there were associations between increasing numbers of satellite naevi and the occurrence of melanoma (P = 0.04), and the presence of NCM (P = 0.06). Compared with patients who did not develop these diseases, median LCMN diameters were larger among patients who developed melanoma (49 vs. 39 cm) and NCM (55 vs. 46 cm).


CONCLUSIONS
In LCMN patients, increasing numbers of satellite lesions and larger LCMN diameters are associated with melanoma and NCM.
Hale
E K
EK
Oncology Section, Skin and Cancer Unit, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, H100, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Stein
J
J
Ben-Porat
L
L
Panageas
K S
KS
Eichenbaum
M S
MS
Marghoob
A A
AA
Osman
I
I
Kopf
A W
AW
Polsky
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000209:etiology*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020752:Neurocutaneous Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital*