The aim of this case report and literature review is to explore the rarely highlighted co-occurrence of malignant melanoma and Parkinson's disease (PD) and to describe the devastating effects on those affected. We present a case of acute confusion and worsening shuffling gait in a patient with Parkinson's disease who eventually succumbed to metastatic malignant melanoma, secondary to a primary malignant melanoma on the back that was treated 6 years earlier. More research is needed to better characterize the associations between these two conditions, and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies such as melanoma screening for adults with PD.
Learning points:
The underlying mechanism for the co-occurrence of Parkinson's disease (PD) and malignant melanoma remains unclear but available evidence suggests genetic associations and environmental factors as potential causes.Patients with PD may require closer dermatological surveillance, particularly those with other risk factors for melanoma such as prolonged sun exposure.More research is needed to better characterize the associations between PD and skin cancers, and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies such as melanoma screening for adults with PD.