A superficial spreading melanoma (Breslow thickness 0.4 rnrnl was diagnosed in a 65-year-old candidate for heart transplantation due to refractory end "stage heart failure. After extensive review ofthe literature (USA and Europe}, no clear guidelines about the management of candidates far transplantation with a previous diagnosis of melanoma were found. As this patient had a 5-year probability of survival higher than 95% and heart transplantation was necessary far saving his life, the final decision was to perform the transplantation. Unfortunately, the patient died of heart failure before a suitable heart became available. This case stresses the need for early and continuous dermatological evaluation of ali candidates far solid organ transplantation. Clear guidelines far screening of skin cancer before transplantation are needed.
Malignant melanoma in a candidate for heart transplantation.
TESSARI, Gianpaolo;FORNI, ALBERTO;FAGGIAN, Giuseppe;MAZZUCCO, Alessandro;BARBA, Annalisa
2005-01-01
Abstract
A superficial spreading melanoma (Breslow thickness 0.4 rnrnl was diagnosed in a 65-year-old candidate for heart transplantation due to refractory end "stage heart failure. After extensive review ofthe literature (USA and Europe}, no clear guidelines about the management of candidates far transplantation with a previous diagnosis of melanoma were found. As this patient had a 5-year probability of survival higher than 95% and heart transplantation was necessary far saving his life, the final decision was to perform the transplantation. Unfortunately, the patient died of heart failure before a suitable heart became available. This case stresses the need for early and continuous dermatological evaluation of ali candidates far solid organ transplantation. Clear guidelines far screening of skin cancer before transplantation are needed.
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