Melanoma Risk in Renal Transplanted Patients

Abstract

Despite the well-known increased risk to develop non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) due to the long-term immunosuppression, data about melanoma incidence and prognosis in solid organ transplanted patients are still debated. Literature studies report a relative risk for melanoma varying from 1.2 and 5.8 in different solid organ recipients, probably as a consequence of the difference in immunosuppressive treatments and endogenous and exogenous risk factors. Here we report data about melanoma incidence, prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics in a series of 686 kidney transplant recipients. In this series, melanoma incidence was 3.5%; most cases were represented by in situ or thin melanomas mainly related to sun exposure, and the prognosis of our patients was good except for only one case with a progressive disease. Our experience confirms the importance of a regular dermatological follow-up and of education to correct sun exposure even in transplanted patients.