Cutaneous Metastatic Breast Carcinoma with Melanocyte Colonization: A Clinical and Dermoscopic Mimic of Malignant Melanoma

Abstract

Awareness of melanocyte colonization of non-melanocytic tumor cells and the dermoscopic-histologic correlations can aid in avoiding a potential pitfall, and emphasize the importance of such relationships, when using this tool.

Dermoscopy of Peristomal Polyps and Metastasis of Colon Cancer

“…Zalaudek et al (2) reported that a polymorphous vascular pattern should always raise the index of suspicion for malignant skin tumours. Since there have been only a few reports dealing with dermoscopic features of skin metastasis from internal tumours (4)(5)(6), typical features of skin metastasis are still unclear. In the present case, clinical features of the metastatic tumour strongly suggested a malignant process, and dermoscopy showed a polymorphous vessel pattern, which is also compatible with malignancy.…”

Quiz Correct answer to the quiz. check your diagnosis Pigmented paget’s disease of the nipple

“…During migration they are blocked and transfer melanin to other epithelial cells [7,17]. Other authors suggest that the epithelial cells of cancer phagocytose melanin from the melanocytes, which causes hyperpigmentation [1,7,11,18].…”

“…There are several hypotheses trying to explain its origin. The first one involves stimulation of melanocytes by growth factors that are produced by cancer cells [1,7,11,12]. The areola, as a region rich in melanocytes, shows visible effects of that stimulation.…”

The use of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of primary cutaneous adnexal neoplasms and metastatic adenocarcinomas to the skin

“…18,19 The presence of entrapped, "passenger" melanocytes in the tumor in question also suggests the likelihood that it is a primary cutaneous lesion; 20 such "colonization" of tumors by non-neoplastic melanocytes is only rarely seen in metastatic tumors. 21,22 Immunophenotyping Because this review is attuned to the differential diagnosis of adenocarcinomas in the skin, one should be aware of immunophenotype of cutaneous glands from which they likely derive ( Figure 1). In the sweat glands, the cells in the excretory coil express low-molecular-weight keratin (LMWK), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP15).…”