Melanoma-associated leukoderma

A case is presented of a man with a history of melanoma treated with sentinel lymphadenectomy and interferon therapy, who subsequently developed diffuse hypopigmented patches thought to be consistent with a diagnosis of melanoma-associated leukoderma. Clinically, melanoma-associated leukoderma is a diffuse macular hypomelanosis or depigmentation, which often develops at sites distant to the location of the primary melanoma. The leukoderma may be hypomelanotic and mottled or depigmented and milk-white. Spontaneous repigmentation may occur. A recent study has demonstrated that T cells involved in the destruction of neoplastic melanocytes are identical clones of those that accumulate in melanoma-associated leukoderma.