A case of tumor-to-tumor metastasis of cutaneous malignant melanoma

J Cutan Pathol. 2020 Dec;47(12):1196-1199. doi: 10.1111/cup.13829. Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Abstract

We report a case of tumor-to-tumor metastasis of a cutaneous malignant melanoma to a synchronous thyroid Hurthle cell carcinoma. A 42-year-old male underwent a biopsy of right inguinal lymphadenopathy which showed metastatic melanoma. The primary lesion was identified on his right posterior leg, and staging workup discovered a synchronous left thyroid lobe nodule concerning for a follicular neoplasm. He underwent excision of the primary melanoma, right inguinal lymphadenectomy, and total thyroidectomy. The resected thyroid contained a 6.6-cm, well-encapsulated left-sided nodule, red-brown in color and homogenous in consistency, with areas of focal hemorrhage and no grossly identifiable calcification. Microscopically, large tumor cells with distinct cell borders were present, with deeply eosinophilic and granular cytoplasm, large nuclei with prominent nucleoli, and loss of polarity consistent with oncocytes. A microscopic single focus of vascular invasion was identified, and a diagnosis of angioinvasive Hurthle cell carcinoma was made. Within the Hurthle cell carcinoma, multiple deposits of metastatic melanoma were seen. These findings were indicative of tumor-to-tumor metastasis of the cutaneous melanoma to the angioinvasive Hurthle cell carcinoma. Our findings show the ability of melanoma to metastasize to a pre-existing neoplasm.

Keywords: Hurthle cell; melanoma; skin neoplasm; thyroid cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma, Oxyphilic / diagnosis*
  • Adenoma, Oxyphilic / surgery
  • Adenoma, Oxyphilic / ultrastructure
  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Humans
  • Inguinal Canal / pathology
  • Lymph Node Excision / methods
  • Lymphadenopathy / pathology
  • Lymphadenopathy / surgery
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnosis*
  • Melanoma / secondary*
  • Melanoma / surgery
  • Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
  • Oxyphil Cells / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / ultrastructure
  • Thyroid Nodule / pathology*
  • Thyroidectomy / methods

Supplementary concepts

  • Thyroid cancer, Hurthle cell