[Hypomelanosis of the skin and malignant melanoma (author's transl)]

8 patients suffering from malignant melanoma have been found to have various degrees of hypomelanoses of the skin. Depigmentation of the skin and/or hair associated with malignant melanoma may take several forms. Schematically six clinical types are described: - vitiligo-like hypomelanoses distant from cutaneous tumors; - vitiligo-like depigmentation associated with uveitis (incomplete Vogt-Koyanagi); - hypomelanoses in the primary tumor and/or its metastases; - "halo melanoma" in which the hypomelanoses encircles the primary tumor and/or its metastases; - halo nevi around preexisting benign nevocellular nevi; - "non-specific depigmentary phenomen" distant from the primary tumor or its metastases. Histological and ultrastructural studies of the depigmented skin show an absence of melanocytes. The association of hypomelanoses of the skin with malignant melanoma is probably not coincidental. Various hypothesis are discussed as well as the prognostic significance of such an association.