Background: Incidence of malignant melanoma has more than doubled in the past 10 years. Two thirds of malignant melanoma arise from melanocytes, the pigmented cells of epidermis and dermis, in one third of the cases from preexisting nevi.
Case report: We report on a 39 year-old pregnant woman with liver metastases after surgical removal of a malignant melanoma two years before. The mother died in the course of progredient liver insufficiency, a male baby had been delivered with a gestational age of 26 weeks + 4 days via cesarean section 11 days before and developed normally.
Results: Early diagnosis and operative excision are decisive for survival, in advanced stages chemotherapy does not prolong survival.
Conclusions: Interdisciplinary co-operation of the pediatrician, obstetrician, and oncologist is of utmost importance.
Discussion: Melanoma and pregnancy represent a difficult situation for the patient, her partner and the treating physicians. Here the wish to have a child meets the potentially deadly cancer disease.