Primary Melanoma of the Lung: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The respiratory apparatus, generally affected by highly aggressive tumors like lung cancer and mesothelioma, is rarely affected by primary malignant melanoma. The aim of this review was to identify cases of primary malignant melanoma of the lung (PMML) published in the modern scientific literature, and to describe their main clinical, pathological and therapeutic features. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of publications in the electronic database PubMed has been performed using keywords, and the references of the selected articles were checked to identify additional missing studies. Results: Globally 52 papers reporting on 76 cases were identified. Among them there were 47 reports of a single case, three papers reporting on two cases each, and two larger case series published in 1997 and 2005 including eight and 15 cases, respectively. Conclusions: PMML was generally diagnosed in middle-aged males, without any apparent correlation with cigarette smoking. It was more frequently found in the lower lobes and the left lung. The tumors were generally pigmented, composed by epithelial and/or spindle cells with large nuclei and prominent nucleoli, nuclear atypia, and numerous mitotic figures; they commonly showed immunostaining for S-100, HMB 45 and Melan-A. Early detection and surgical resection were the main determinants of survival from this rare malignancy.

Malignant melanoma mimic fungal infection a case report

“…The pathogenesis of malignant melanomas is very complex, including a series of complicated interactions among external events and endogenous triggers, genetic mutations of BRAF, NRAS, and KIT, as well as endogenous and immune-related factors of the tumor [ 2 , 10 ]. Approximately 90% of malignant melanomas originate from the skin, while melanomas of lung and liver origin are very rare [ 3 , 11 , 12 ]. In this report, tissue biopsy results of both lungs and unhealed plantar puncture wound indicate the patient should be diagnosed as malignant melanoma.…”

Misdiagnosis of Systemic Metastatic Melanoma for fungal infection: A case report

“…The pathogenesis of malignant melanomas is very complex, including a series of complicated interactions among external events and endogenous triggers, genetic mutations of BRAF, NRAS, and KIT, as well as endogenous and immune-related factors of the tumor [2,8] . Approximately 90% of malignant melanomas originate from the skin, while melanomas of lung and liver origin are very rare [3,10,11] . In this report, tissue biopsy results of both lungs and unhealed plantar puncture wound indicate the patient should be diagnosed as malignant melanoma.…”

“…Lung is one of the most common site of melanoma metastases. Imageology, such as chest computed tomography (CT), is one of the most commonly used examination methods to con rm the diagnosis of lung diseases [1][2][3][4] . However, imageology characters of pulmonary melanomas are similar to those of pulmonary infection, especially fungal infection, both of which showing nodules or cavity-like changes [6,9,12,14] .…”

Primary melanoma in the bronchus

“…Bronchoscopy is necessary to diagnose PMML with characteristic pigmentation because it mainly occurs in central lung areas 1 . Both immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy are less effective for PMML than for skin melanoma 1 ; therefore, given the rarity of PMML, in the absence of an established treatment protocol, advanced PMML can be treated using the CheckMate‐066 study regimen 2 . Clinicians must consider the biological characteristics of PMML for appropriate clinical management.…”