Metastatic Melanoma Negative for 5 Melanocytic Markers, Complete Regressed Primary Cutaneous Melanoma, and Melanoma-Associated Leukoderma in the Same Patient

Am J Dermatopathol. 2020 Dec;42(12):956-960. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000001774.

Abstract

Melanomas with complete histological regression have been seen very infrequently. On the other hand, the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma is based on the histopathology and positivity of markers such as S100, Melan-A, and HMB-45 whose sensitivity is 99%, 82%, and 76%, respectively. It is very rare that metastatic melanomas and even more primary melanoma are negative for all of these markers. In these rare cases, there is usually a known primary. We present the case of a 82-year-old woman with a erythematous mass in the left groin and a 1-cm black-bluish irregular nodule on the skin of the ipsilateral foot. This lesion was clinical and dermoscopically compatible with primary melanoma. In the histological evaluation of the skin, a dermis full of melanophages and hemosiderophages were found in a background of fibrosis, scarce lymphocytic infiltrate, and neovascularization. Any cells expressing melanocytic markers were observed. It was diagnosed as tumoral melanosis. Lymph nodes showed a proliferation of atypical epithelioid cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitosis was conspicuous. Tumoral cells were vimentin and CD99 positive, and S100, CD34, HMB-45, Melan-A, SOX 10, tyrosinase, C-KIT, CD45, and CKAE1/AE3 negative, and BRAF-V600 mutated was detected. During follow-up, atypical vitiligo-like lesions were discovered, suggesting the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma totally regressed in our patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Melanocytes / chemistry*
  • Melanocytes / pathology
  • Melanoma / chemistry*
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Melanosis / genetics
  • Melanosis / metabolism*
  • Melanosis / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf