The role of trauma in the melanoma formation.

PURPOSE: Mechanical trauma and its importance for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) formation are still a disputable problem. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between the mechanical trauma on preexisting pigmented skin lesions as a risk factor for development of CMM.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A comprehensive analytical case-control study was conducted covering 156 patients with histologically proven CMM and a control group of 156 individuals without oncological diseases. The study was performed using a specially developed questionnaire containing personal data and questions referring to the character and particularities of the trauma and later changes in the preexisting pigmented skin lesion.

RESULTS

The results revealed that a history for trauma on a preexisting pigmented skin lesion was associated with elevated, still not statistically significant, risk for CMM formation. Cases with only acute traumas did not reveal risk for tumor formation.

CONCLUSION

The data from this study show that the role of mechanical injury, though uncertain, cannot be entirely neglected. Additional studies are necessary to clarify this question. Until then, trauma, particularly a repeated one, should be considered as a factor associated with increased risk for CMM formation.