Malignant melanoma and lymphoproliferative malignancy: is there a shared aetiology?

We report seven patients who developed malignant melanoma either coincident with or before the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphatic leukaemia. One patient died secondary to leukaemia, and chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression may have contributed to the development of metastatic melanoma in another patient. Immunosuppression, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and genetic factors may result in a host environment that is conducive to the development of both tumours in these patients.