title: Complete regression of melanoma associated with vitiligo.
abstract: A 53-year-old woman presented with vitiligo. A pigmented lesion was disclosed in the physical examination. Its histopathologic study showed the presence of a band of melanophages in an uneven distribution. Fibroplasia and telangiectasias were also observed, but neither nevus nor melanoma cells were found. A short time afterwards, the patient developed a metastasis in an inguinal lymph node. In spite of high-dose interferon treatment, the patient died two years after the diagnosis. This case associates two uncommon events: a) the whole regression of a melanoma and b) vitiligo associated with melanoma. Although both processes have a similar pathogenic mechanism, this association is exceptional and probably influences the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology - Dr Jose Molina Orosa Hospital of Lanzarote, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain.
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piqué-Duran
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palacios-Llopis
authors.forename: MaríaSol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martín
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pérez-Cejudo
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000150:complications*