UVEAL MELANOMA AND FAMILIAL ATYPICAL MOLE AND MELANOMA (FAM-M) SYNDROME

We conducted this study to determine whether occurrence of primary uveal melanoma in the setting of familial atypical mole and melanoma (FAM-M) syndrome (an autosomal dominant cutaneous preneoplastic syndrome) follows a pattern of a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome. A retrospective review of 4600 consecutive patients with primary uveal melanoma revealed eight patients with biopsy-proven FAM-M syndrome. The clinical profile of these patients was studied and their kindreds analyzed. In patients with FAM-M syndrome, the uveal melanoma occurred at a relatively young age (mean 40 years; range 10-52 years). The diagnosis of FA M-M syndrome preceded or followed the diagnosis of uveal melanoma by as much as 10 years. None of the patients had an associated nonmelanocytic malignancy. Three of the eight patients had a positive family history of melanoma (cutaneous melanoma (2) and uveal melanoma (1). The authors conclude that the occurrence of primary uveal melanoma in the setting of FAM-M syndrome does not follow a clear pattern of a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome.