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Neurosarcomatous transformation in malignant melanoma. An ultrastructural study
Author(s) -
Dimaio Sheila M.,
MacKay Bruce,
Smith J. Leslie,
Dickersin G. Richard
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19821201)50:11<2345::aid-cncr2820501121>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - melanoma , pathology , ultrastructure , medicine , malignant transformation , neural crest , lesion , antecedent (behavioral psychology) , lymphatic system , schwann cell , biology , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , psychology , developmental psychology
Six cases of demoplastic melanoma were studied by light and elctron microscopy. The tumors fulfilled one or more of the following criteria: (1) having the presence of atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation bordering the primary lesion; (2) an antecedent history of melanoma at the site of recurrence; (3) a metastatic lesion in the direct lymphatic drainage route of a previously excised melanoma. Premelanosomes were not identified in the neoplastic cells. Ultrastructural features common to the six tumors were interpreted as evidence of Schwann cell differentiation, i.e. , neurosarcomatous transformation occuring in malignant melanoma. The ultrastructural findings provide further support for the concept that melanocytic lesions may simulate tumors of Schwann cell origin, presumably reflecting the common embryologic origin of the two cell types from the neural crest.