[Multiple primary malignant melanomas].

We report on a 54-year-old woman who developed 6 melanomas and 9 lentigines malignae in 5 years. Five of the 6 melanomas were malignant lentigo melanomas. In one case it was not possible to differentiate between malignant lentigo melanoma and superficial spreading melanoma. Intensive exposure of the corresponding localizations (face, arms and back) to sunlight over many years was the only risk factor known in this case. In spite of multiple tumors, the prognosis is relatively good for this patient, because the risk of recurrence or metastasis does not multiply but depends on the prognostically most unfavorable tumor (0.65 mm--level III--with regression zone).