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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Cutaneous melanoma arising from a cesarean delivery skin scar

  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Abstract

A 41-year-old pregnant African-American woman noticed rapid growth of her cesarean delivery skin scar beginning at 14-week gestation. Skin biopsy, which was performed at 31 weeks, revealed poorly differentiated cutaneous melanoma. At 34 weeks, she underwent repeat cesarean delivery with tumor excision, pelvic lymphadenectomy and abdominal wall reconstruction. Locally advanced disease and anatomical limitations prevented attainment of negative surgical margins. Despite adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation, she died 1 year after diagnosis. Deferring biopsy of a suspicious skin lesion during pregnancy may have delayed the diagnosis of melanoma in this case and possibly affected the long-term outcome.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Fernanda Musa, MD and Amos Grunebaum, MD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    J S Brandt

  2. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    S Fishman

  3. Department of Pathology, New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    C M Magro

Authors
  1. J S Brandt
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  2. S Fishman
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  3. C M Magro
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Correspondence to J S Brandt.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Brandt, J., Fishman, S. & Magro, C. Cutaneous melanoma arising from a cesarean delivery skin scar. J Perinatol 32, 807–809 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.172

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.172

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