The spectrum of malignant melanoma on cytology: A tertiary care center study

Introduction: Malignant melanoma accounts for around 3% of all malignancies. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a convenient diagnostic procedure for the diagnosis of melanoma and its metastases.

Aim: To explore the cytological spectrum of malignant melanoma including the rare metastatic sites.

Material and methods: A total of 51 patients of malignant melanoma or its metastases on FNAC were studied over a period of 5 years. The FNAC smears of these cases were analyzed in detail by two different observers (GC and PD).

Results: Among the 51 patients studied, the mean age was 54 years (range 19-97 years). Male-to-female ratio was 1.04:1 with 25 females and 26 males. The commonest primary site of the melanoma cases was lower extremity. The inguinal lymph node was the most common site for metastasis. Melanin pigment was the predominant feature followed by prominent nucleoli. Epithelioid pattern was the predominant shape.

Conclusion: Cytopathologists must be aware of the wide range of morphological spectrum seen in the cases of melanoma for a greater accuracy in diagnosis and to circumvent pitfalls in diagnosing melanoma.