Outcomes of melanoma in recipients of solid organ transplant.

BACKGROUND

There is concern that the immunologic tumor malignant melanoma (MM) may have worse outcomes in immunosuppressed hosts than in the general population.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to describe outcomes of MM in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients and compare them with the general population.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of medical charts and pathology slides of cases of MM and solid organ transplantation between 1978 and 2007, with comparison of outcomes.

RESULTS

In all, 48 MMs were identified in 43 transplant recipients. No patient with MM before transplant receipt had melanoma recurrence, subsequent metastasis, or death caused by melanoma. Of patients with MM diagnosed after transplantation, metastases developed in 3 patients, and two patients died of melanoma.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective review and low number of cases are limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcomes of MM in immunosuppressed transplant recipients appeared similar to those in prognostically matched nonimmunosuppressed hosts. The small number of cases limited statistical comparisons.