ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ENDOMETRIOSIS, DYSPLASTIC NEVI AND HISTORY OF MELANOMA IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE

Women with melanoma and its precursor lesions, dysplastic naevi, have a higher prevalence of reproductive disorders than women without melan otic lesions. This association appears strongest among young women wit h dysplastic naevi and endometriosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with laparoscopy-confirmed endometriosis for the pr esence of dysplastic naevi. A total of 66 endometriosis patients and 3 5 controls completed a detailed questionnaire and underwent an extensi ve dermatological examination for the presence of dysplastic naevi. In all, 41% of patients aged less than or equal to 32 years had dysplast ic naevi, compared with 8% of controls (P = 0.038). In addition, 29% o f patients with endometriosis reported a family history of melanoma co mpared with 10% of controls (P = 0.039). This study demonstrated an as sociation between endometriosis and dysplastic naevi in younger women of reproductive age and found an associated family history of melanoma among endometriosis patients. These observations may be useful in the evaluation and care of young women by both gynaecologists and dermato logists.