(756) Evaluating the incidence and risk factors of melanoma and history of melanoma in pregnancy

Friday, January 31, 2025

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

Ethan Bendayan

Medical Student
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Coauthor(s)

AS

Andrea R. Spence, PhD

Jewish General Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
HA

Haim A. Abenhaim, MD, MPH

MFM Specialist, Associate Professor Obstetrics & Gynecology, Obstetrician&Gynecologist
Jewish General Hospital, McGill University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Objective: Melanoma is a common form of skin cancer, the incidence of which is uncertain in pregnancy. Previous reports estimated melanoma to be one of the most prevalent cancers in pregnancy. We sought to find the incidence of melanoma or a history of melanoma in pregnancy in a population-based study.

Study Design: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample’s 2016-2021 records were used in order to conduct a retrospective cohort study. To identify pregnancy and delivery records, both affected by melanoma or a history of melanoma and unaffected, ICD-10 codes were used. ICD-10 codes were used to isolate the baseline characteristics, as well.

Results: The cohort contained 213 admissions with melanoma or a history of it, out of 4,337,612 total delivery admissions. The incidence was calculated to be 4.9 cases per 100,000 deliveries. Of the records with melanoma or history of melanoma, 64% were between 25 and 35 years old and 74% were at, or past, the 50th income percentile.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the incidence of melanoma or history of melanoma in pregnancy is extremely low and, unlike previously reported, melanoma is likely one of the least prevalent cancers in pregnancy. Age and income appear to be risk factors for developing melanoma, or having a history of melanoma, in pregnancy. Larger scale studies should be conducted in order to verify the degree of association.