Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma Associated with Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

As the survival from cutaneous malignant melanoma and its clinical concerns have been steadily increasing, the possibility has been raised of an increased risk of second primary cancers in the patients with malignant melanoma. Especially, recent studies have identified an association between cutaneous malignant melanoma and thyroid carcinoma. We here report on a case of cutaneous malignant melanoma that developed in a 61-year-old female patient who had hypothyroidism caused by papillary thyroid carcinoma. We suggest that the individuals who have cutaneous malignant melanoma may be predisposed to other primary cancers and especially thyroid carcinoma. Continuous monitoring of the thyroid function in melanoma patients is required because hypothyroidism can worsen due to malignant melanoma and this is probably associated with thyroid carcinoma. (Ann Dermatol 22(3) 370∼372, 2010)

Meta-Analyses of Epidemiologic Associations between Cutaneous Melanoma and Thyroid Cancer

“…In our analysis of the literature, population-based studies that stratified SIR by time yielded mixed and inconclusive results, with some reports of increased risk in the first year and some reports of an increased risk up to ten years following the primary cancer diagnosis. In the six case reports of incidental TC diagnosed among CM patients that were excluded from our analysis, all cases of the subsequent cancer were detected during surveillance for the primary cancer: three cases were identified by FDG-PET for metastatic melanoma evaluation; one case was identified when routine pre-op laboratory exam for melanoma excision revealed abnormal thyroid levels; one case was diagnosed when routine dermatologic exam was significant for enlarged thyroid gland 8 months after excision of CM; and another case was diagnosed when radical neck dissection for CM metastasis to sentinel lymph node revealed metastasis of PTC in four out of thirty-eight lymph nodes [26][27][28][29][30]. Therefore, increased medical surveillance still could explain part of the association between TC and CM.…”

Detection of BRAFV600E mutation on papillary thyroid carcinoma and metastatic malignant melanoma by fine‐needle aspiration cytology

“…Some papers have reported the association between malignant melanoma and TC . The mechanism for this is unclear.…”

“…The association of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and thyroid cancer (TC) has been rarely described in the last years . Risk factors that are known to be associated with CM, such as ultraviolet radiation, are not known to predispose individuals to TC .…”

Giant congenital nevus associated with papillary thyroid cancer: the first case report

“…Some studies have demonstrated that dysplastic melanocytic cells, which form GCN, are positive for prepro‐TRH message and thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) protein expression in reverse‐polymerase chain reaction/Southern blotting and immunocytochemistry, 18 and also express high levels of TSH. It is probable that this is related to the thyroid disorder that leads to the development of hypothyroidism under the condition of low levels of circulating thyroid hormone and concomitantly elevated TSH 19 . High levels of TSH cause significant activity of thyroid cells, with increased production of thyroid hormones.…”

“…It is probable that this is related to the thyroid disorder that leads to the development of hypothyroidism under the condition of low levels of circulating thyroid hormone and concomitantly elevated TSH. 19 High levels of TSH cause significant activity of thyroid cells, with increased production of thyroid hormones. Cells then deplete stocks of iodine, which lowers hormone production.…”