Pregnancy associated with melanoma and fetal anomalies: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

The estimated incidence of melanoma complicating pregnancy has ranged from 0.1 to 2.8 per 1,000 pregnancies. Here the Authors present a case of a 40-year-old pregnant woman, who was admitted to the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 26 weeks of gestation, with diagnosis of melanoma and suspected with fetal anomaly, as possible bowel obstruction, and polyhydraminos. The melanoma was asported with a wide local excision under local anesthesia. Histological evaluation revealed melanoma Stage Ib (Clark IV, Breslow thickness 1.2 mm, pT2a). Lymph node sonography of neck, axilla, inguinum, abdomen, and pelvis as well as chest radiography did not demonstrate any evidence of metastatic disease. After vaginal delivery at 37 weeks of gestation, the female preterm hypotrophic newborn was transferred to the Institute for Neonatology and underwent resection of duodenojejunal atresia with tapering duodenoplasty and duodenojejunal termino-terminal anastomoses due to intestinal obstruction. No evidence of the melanoma was found in the placenta. Two years later the child was healthy and the mother was disease-free.