Ann Dermatol.  2010 Aug;22(3):370-372. 10.5021/ad.2010.22.3.370.

Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma Associated with Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University & Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Jinju, Korea.
  • 2Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea. cheewon@hotmail.com

Abstract

As the survival from cutaneous malignant melanoma and its clinical concerns have been steadily increasing, the possibility has been raised of an increased risk of second primary cancers in the patients with malignant melanoma. Especially, recent studies have identified an association between cutaneous malignant melanoma and thyroid carcinoma. We here report on a case of cutaneous malignant melanoma that developed in a 61-year-old female patient who had hypothyroidism caused by papillary thyroid carcinoma. We suggest that the individuals who have cutaneous malignant melanoma may be predisposed to other primary cancers and especially thyroid carcinoma. Continuous monitoring of the thyroid function in melanoma patients is required because hypothyroidism can worsen due to malignant melanoma and this is probably associated with thyroid carcinoma.

Keyword

Hypothyroidism; Melanoma; Papillary thyroid carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma
Female
Humans
Hypothyroidism
Melanoma
Middle Aged
Neoplasms, Second Primary
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Carcinoma
Thyroid Neoplasms

Figure

  • Fig. 1 The 1.0×1.0 cm sized solitary black-colored nodule with 2.5×2.0 cm sized surrounded ill-demarcated mottled patches on the left heel.

  • Fig. 2 (A) The histopathologic findings show scattered or nested atypical melanocytes that are arranged in a pagetoid pattern (H&E stain, ×12.5). (B) The high power view reveals nests of anaplastic epithelioid cells with melanin pigment in the tumor and dilated, enlarged vascular channels in the dermis (H&E stain, ×40).

  • Fig. 3 The PET-CT scan finding shows focal hot lesions are checked (A) in the left lobe of the thyroid and (B) the soft tissue on the heel of the left foot.


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