Multiple Primary Acral Melanomas in Two Young Caucasian Patients

Background: Acral melanoma (AM) is still one of the most poorly studied melanomas. It generally presents beyond the fifth decade of life and usually is a BRAF wild-type melanoma. Objective: To report the first cases of multiple primary AM in Caucasians. Methods:Clinical, dermoscopic, pathological and molecular profiles. Results: A healthy 34-year-old male presented an in situ subungual melanoma on his finger, and 22 months later a fast-growing nodular melanoma appeared in an existing nevus on the sole. Both melanomas carried the V600E BRAF mutation. A 19-year-old female patient presented 2 in situ melanomas on different parts of her left foot within a 6-year period of time. The patients have neither familiar melanoma nor germline mutations in CDKN2A/CDK4 genes. Conclusion: Multiple AM in Caucasians is very rare. BRAF mutations are possible, especially in a high-risk set of patients with multiple nevi. Specific acral examination must be recommended since AM still suffers delayed detection. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel