Cytologic Features of Metastatic Melanoma

Suh, Jae Hee; Huh, Joo Ryung; Gong, Gyung Yub

Abstract

Metastatic melanoma is often difficult to diagnose morphologically. However, the prognostic and therapeutic decision in cases of metastatic melanoma depends upon the morphologic documentation of the metastatic disease, which may rapidly and accurately be done by cytologic methods such as aspiration cytology of clinically suspicious lesion. Cytological features of 12 metastatic melanoma are described. Evaluation for melanin pigment, background composition, cytoplasmic vacuoles, intranuclear inclusions, bi or multinucleated cells, eccentric nuclei, nucleoli, and degree of cellular cohesion were made. the presence of melanin pigment, prominent nucleoli, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, lack of cell cohesion, and eccentric nuclei are the important and useful cytologic features in the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma. Bior multinucleated cells, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and bloody background are also frequently found in smears from metastatic melanoma.