TY - JOUR
T1 - Malignant melanoma with clinical and histologic features of Merkel cell carcinoma
AU - House, Nancy S.
AU - Fedok, Fred
AU - Maloney, Mary E.
AU - Helm, Klaus
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - We describe a patient with malignant melanoma that resembled a Merkel cell carcinoma both clinically and histologically. Immunohistochemical studies showed focally positive staining with S-100 protein and strongly positive staining with HMB-45. Ultrastructural study confirmed the diagnosis by demonstrating premelanosomes and melanosomes. Although the tumor appeared to be clinically unimpressive, it was a deep melanoma with a Breslow level of 3.8 mm that necessitated aggressive treatment. Small cell melanoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of small cell tumors, which also includes lymphoma, eccrine carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma, including the small cell variant, may require electron microscopic studies.
AB - We describe a patient with malignant melanoma that resembled a Merkel cell carcinoma both clinically and histologically. Immunohistochemical studies showed focally positive staining with S-100 protein and strongly positive staining with HMB-45. Ultrastructural study confirmed the diagnosis by demonstrating premelanosomes and melanosomes. Although the tumor appeared to be clinically unimpressive, it was a deep melanoma with a Breslow level of 3.8 mm that necessitated aggressive treatment. Small cell melanoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of small cell tumors, which also includes lymphoma, eccrine carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma, including the small cell variant, may require electron microscopic studies.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0190-9622(94)70241-1
DO - 10.1016/S0190-9622(94)70241-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 7525666
AN - SCOPUS:0027999469
SN - 0190-9622
VL - 31
SP - 839
EP - 842
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
IS - 5
ER -