A link between malignant melanoma and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia? A preliminary report

The risk of malignant melanoma was found to be six times as great in a group of 805 patients with cervical dysplasia as in case-matched controls. In the latter it was similar to that in the general population. In keeping with this observation a further series of 13,030 women with no record of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia showed a slightly lower risk than that expected in the general population. Conversely in a small group of women (71) with melanoma the risk of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia was nine times as great as in the general population; judged on the basis of both case-matched and 'first smear' controls. The possibility of a common risk factor is discussed.