title: Malignant melanoma metastatic to sphenoid bone with an unknown primary origin: report of a case with an immunohistochemical analysis of the infiltrating lymphocytes.
abstract: A rare case of hemorrhagic malignant melanoma from an unknown primary origin to the right sphenoid bone in a 37-year-old woman is presented. The tumor occupied an extensive intracranial extradural space with a mild orbital infiltration, but little involvement of the leptomeninges and parenchymal tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes showed that the majority expressed pan-T or Leu-1 surface antigens and that the lymphocytes bearing the Leu-3 antigen, or helper phenotype, were predominant compared to the Leu-2 population representing both suppressor and cytotoxic T cells. Furthermore, most of the T lymphocytes stained with HLA-DR antigens. Because few B cells were seen, this observation indicates the presence of T cells in an activated state. The literature pertinent to associated organ involvement of metastatic melanomas and the correlations between the tumor and immunological cellular responses are discussed.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Paine
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moritake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*