Familial and sporadic melanoma: different clinical and histopathological features in the Italian population - a multicentre epidemiological study - by GIPMe (Italian Multidisciplinary Group on Melanoma).

Background Having a familial member affected by cutaneous melanoma is a risk factor for this neoplasm. Only a few epidemiological case-control studies have been carried out to investigate whether familial and sporadic melanomas show different clinical and histopathological features. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate eventual different features and risk factors in subjects affected by familial and sporadic cutaneous melanoma. Methods A case-control multicentre study interesting 1407 familial (n = 92) and sporadic (n = 1315) melanomas in the Italian population. The analysis was made using t-test for continuous variables and chi-squared test for categorized ones. The variables which have shown statistically significant differences in the two groups in the univariate analysis were included in a multivariate model. Results The results showed some main significantly clinical differences between the two groups investigated: earlier age at diagnosis, a greater proportion of sunburns and a higher number of naevi were observed for the familial cases compared with sporadic ones. Nevertheless, we did not find a diagnostic anticipation in familial melanomas, in fact the invasion level and the thickness of melanomas was similar in the two groups. Conclusion Some relevant clinical differences are observed between the two groups examined. The familial melanoma members, although carriers of constitutional risk factors, are not careful enough to primary and secondary prevention.