Trauma and melanoma formation: a true association?

Background Little is known about the role of mechanical trauma in the patho genesis of malignant melanoma. In individual patients, traumatic events hav e been discussed as a causative factor for the induction of melanoma and di agnosis of melanoma following trauma may raise medico-legal questions. Objectives To evaluate the relationship between traumatic single or recurre nt events and melanoma characteristics. Methods Retrospective questionnaire in 369 melanoma patients. Results A large number of patients (337 of 369; 91.3%) denied an associatio n between a possible traumatic event and melanoma formation. Thirty-two of 369 patients (8.7%) considered an association of trauma and melanoma format ion likely. Of these 32 patients, 22 patients (13 men, nine women) reported a single event, and 10 patients (four men, six women) a persisting irritat ion. An irritation of a pre-existing melanocytic naevus was reported by two patients with histologically confirmed melanoma on acquired or congenital naevus. Conclusions As most of the patients who mentioned a trauma in this study su ffered from acral melanoma, or melanoma located on the extremities, a histo ry of trauma should be expected more frequently at these body sites. A revi ew of epidemiological, clinical and scientific research indicates that ther e seems to be no evidence for single or persistent traumatic events as a ca usative factor for melanoma formation.