MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES AFTER FOTEMUSTI NE AND DACARBAZINE THERAPY FOR MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

Introduction. Secondary myelodysplasia after antimitotic therapy rare complication usually observed with alkylating agents. The condition us ually progresses to acute leukaemia with very poor short term prognosi s. Case report. We report the cases of 2 women who developed myelodysp lasia 2 and 9 months after treatment associating dacarbazine and fotem ustine for visceral metastases of a malignant melanoma. Discussion. Th e frequency of these rare complications is probably underestimated bec ause of the rapid unfavourable outcome of metastatic malignant melanom a. We were unable to determine whether dacarbazine, fotemustine or the ir combination was incriminated in this complication. Risk could be re duced by carefully determining the cumulative doses of these antimitot ics.