The cutaneous manifestations of metastatic malignant melanoma

Abstract

Cutaneous metastases are common sequelae of primary malignant melanoma. Because patients with melanoma are examined frequently after diagnosis, it is important that dermatologists are aware of the range of findings that may represent metastatic disease. Many case reports and a few retrospective series have been published detailing the wide variety of clinical presentations of cutaneous metastatic melanoma. This article reviews the various manifestations of metastatic melanoma of the skin and oral mucous membranes and summarizes treatment options for metastatic disease.

Inflammatory metastatic melanoma presenting as a rash in the groin of an elderly woman

“…The skin is a frequent site of melanoma dissemination [3]. In approximately 30 % of cases cutaneous metastases are preceded by lymph node involvement [1]. As with other cutaneous tumor metastases, the spread of melanoma to the skin signifies a poor prognosis [3].…”

“…Melanoma is the most common metastatic tumor to the skin in men, and the second most common in women [1,2]. Cutaneous involvement by melanoma is detected in nearly 50 % of patients with disseminated disease [1].…”

“…Melanoma is the most common metastatic tumor to the skin in men, and the second most common in women [1,2]. Cutaneous involvement by melanoma is detected in nearly 50 % of patients with disseminated disease [1]. Since regular complete skin examination is a part of follow-up in patients diagnosed with this malignancy [1], familiarity with unusual clinical presentations of skin metastases is important in the clinical management of affected patients.…”

“…Cutaneous involvement by melanoma is detected in nearly 50 % of patients with disseminated disease [1]. Since regular complete skin examination is a part of follow-up in patients diagnosed with this malignancy [1], familiarity with unusual clinical presentations of skin metastases is important in the clinical management of affected patients. We report an unusual case of a patient who, as a manifestation of intralymphatic melanoma dissemination, developed a rash that was initially considered to be of infectious etiology.…”

Diffuse melanosis cutis in the setting of BRAFV600E metastatic melanoma

“…Diffuse melanosis cutis (DMC) is a rare presentation of metastatic melanoma characterized by a blue–gray discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes . We present the first reported case of DMC in which BRAF mutation testing has been performed and highlight the importance of mutation testing in the new era of targeted therapies for metastatic melanoma.…”