Articles
15 January 2025
Early Access
https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2025.10095

Melanoma in pregnancy: multidisciplinary treatment management and outcome

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Melanoma, pregnancy, skin cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy, survival
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Authors

Francesca Romana Grippaudo
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1578-4955
Department of Plastic Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Giulia Ruggeri
giulia.ruggeri@uniroma1.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9211-1231
Department of Plastic Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Paola De Simone
Dermatological Oncology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS (ISG), Rome, Italy.
Monia Di Prete
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3881-8540
Dermatopathology Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS (ISG), Rome, Italy.
Guglielmo Tellan
Department of Internistic, Anaesthetic and Cardiovascular Clinical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Elena Rita Govoni
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2152-2483
Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Italy.
Emilia Migliano
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5316-8937
Plastic and Regenerative Surgery Department, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS (ISG), Rome, Italy.

Pregnancy-associated melanoma affects both maternal and fetal health. This study aims to demonstrate how a specialized center and a multidisciplinary approach can provide the best outcomes. From January 2006 to September 2023, a bicentric observational study was conducted at the Plastic Surgery Department of Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, and at the Plastic and Regenerative Surgery Department of the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Out of 6800 melanoma cases, twenty pregnant women were selected: thirteen underwent only wide local excision (WLE), while seven also had sentinel node biopsy (SLNB). All preoperative, operative, and postoperative steps were performed to ensure the safety of mothers and fetuses. Two patients developed metastases, with one fatality from hepatic metastases. The overall survival rate at 5-year follow-up was 86%, and 72% for advanced stages and disease-free patients. No maternal or fetal complications related to surgery were reported. Additionally, early deliveries at 7 and 8 months did not result in neonatal complications. Surgical treatment should be conducted in centers with both surgeons and gynecologists, and special care is necessary for procedures on pregnant women. Based on our experience, pregnancy does not seem to be a negative prognostic factor for melanoma.

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Melanoma in pregnancy: multidisciplinary treatment management and outcome. (2025). Dermatology Reports. https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2025.10095
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