ABSTRACT

Malignant melanoma diagnosed during pregnancy results in confusion about staging and management. In this case report, a 39-year-old preg- nant woman, who had undergone conception via in vitro fertilisation, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma of a growing lesion on her back in the 20th week of gestation. She delivered her baby by caesar- ean section in the 38th week. Metastasis was not found by chest X-ray, ultrasonography and positron emission tomography after delivery. She has been disease free for 6 months postpartum. Surgical resection of malignant melanoma and postponing of the sentinel lymph node bi- opsy has been proposed. Risk of adverse perinatal outcomes has not been increased; but the prognosis of malignant melanoma is known to be poorer when diagnosed during pregnancy. As a conclusion, any pig- mentary change in the nevi should be assessed carefully during preg- nancy. (J Turkish-German Gynecol Assoc 2013; 14: 186-7)

Keywords: Malignant melanoma, pregnancy, in vitro fertilisation