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Mar
01
2018
University of Queensland researchers have found that freckles and moles appearing on the iris indicate a high risk of melanoma, particularly in people under 40 years of age.
Associate Professor Rick Sturm of the University’s Dermatology Research Centre said the presence of pigmented lesions was an effective predictor of the risk of melanoma that complemented traditional factors.
“We found the presence of three or more iris pigmented lesions was associated with a 45 percent increased risk of melanoma,” Dr Sturm said. “This association was particularly strong in people under 40.
“The presence of iris freckling and naevi provides additional information about an individual’s melanoma risk over and above factors like blue eyes, red hair, fair skin and the number of moles on the skin.”
The study, involving Professor H. Peter Soyer and Dr Antonia Laino, involved 1117 participants of European background living in south-east Queensland.
Dr Laino said the results showed that participants with pigmented lesions were 1.45 times more likely to develop melanoma.
“This association was particularly strong in people under 40, suggesting a genetic susceptibility. “These lesions should be used as markers for melanoma risk in younger patients,” she added.
The UQ Diamantina Institute study was published in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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