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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
Published on: June 7, 2019
The role of trauma in the melanoma formation
1National Oncological Center, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Purpose:
Mechanical trauma and its importance for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) formation are still a disputable problem. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between the mechanical trauma on preexisting pigmented skin lesions as a risk factor for development of CMM.
Materials And Methods:
A comprehensive analytical case-control study was conducted covering 156 patients with histologically proven CMM and a control group of 156 individuals without oncological diseases. The study was performed using a specially developed questionnaire containing personal data and questions referring to the character and particularities of the trauma and later changes in the preexisting pigmented skin lesion.
Results:
The results revealed that a history for trauma on a preexisting pigmented skin lesion was associated with elevated, still not statistically significant, risk for CMM formation. Cases with only acute traumas did not reveal risk for tumor formation.
Conclusion:
The data from this study show that the role of mechanical injury, though uncertain, cannot be entirely neglected. Additional studies are necessary to clarify this question. Until then, trauma, particularly a repeated one, should be considered as a factor associated with increased risk for CMM formation.
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