Association between lymphoma and melanoma: report of a single-center series of eight patients and a review of the literature

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies have reported an association between lymphoid neoplasia and melanoma. However, the clinical characteristics, medical history and outcome of patients presenting both diseases have not been clearly described. Patients who developed both lymphoma and melanoma at the Institut Curie between 1970 and 2005 were included in this retrospective study. Patient characteristics were analysed and a review of all previously published cases was then performed. The eight patients of our series and those derived from a review of the literature resulted in a population of 70 patients. The male/female sex ratio was greater than 1. Patients were older than 50 years. The mean interval to the second malignancy was 5 years and 13 years for lymphoma and melanoma, respectively. Most patients had an indolent B-cell lymphoma and localized melanoma. Frequent skin involvement was reported for T-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy or external radiation therapy frequently preceded the second malignancy. Patients with lymphoma and melanoma should be closely monitored to detect the appearance of a second malignancy. Further studies are therefore warranted to elucidate this peculiar association.

Keywords:

• Lymphoma
• melanoma
• second malignancy