Cutaneous dysplastic naevi in uveal melanoma patients: markers for prognosis?

We have previously reported that the presence of cutaneous dysplastic naevi is a risk factor for uveal melanoma, In the present study our goal was to determine the incidence of different histopathological features of uveal me lanoma among 91 patients with or without cutaneous dysplastic naevi, Statis tical analysis revealed that the presence of cutaneous dysplastic naevi in uveal melanoma patients is associated with an increased incidence of the pr ognostically worst forms of uveal melanoma (epithelioid or mixed cell type melanomas), The relative risk was 5.97 (95% confidence interval 1.61-22.14) . Our results suggest that the presence of cutaneous dysplastic naevi is no t only a risk factor but also a prognostic factor for uveal melanoma. (C) 2 000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.