Metastatic balloon cell malignant melanoma: A case report and literature review

Lili Lee, Fang Zhou, Anthony Simms, Rosemary Wieczorek, Yanan Fang, Antonio Subietas-Mayol, Beverly Wang, Patricia Heller, Hongying Huang, Zhiheng Pei, Iman Osman, Shane Meehan, Peng Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

A case of metastatic balloon cell malignant melanoma (BCMM) is presented. The balloon melanoma cells (BMC) were absent in the shave biopsy of the primary lesion and present as a minor component in the wide and deep excision. A subsequent right neck lymph node metastasis showed complete replacement of the lymph node by large, foamy cells. Though the tumor was amelanocytic and Fontana-Masson stain failed to reveal melanin, it stained positively for S-100, HMB-45, and Melan-A. Ultrastructurally, the foamy cells were characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolization and a lack of melanosomes. The differential diagnosis of metastatic balloon cell malignant melanoma is broad, and clinicopathologic correlation may play a critical role in achieving the correct diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)315-321
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
Volume4
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Balloon cell
  • Clear cell tumors
  • Malignant
  • Melanoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Histology

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