Melanocyte colonization of adenocarcinoma arising in an ovarian dermoid.
An adenocarcinoma which arose in a dermoid cyst of the ovary displayed areas of melanocyte colonization and pigmentation. Ultrastructural study revealed the presence of epithelial tumour cells and melanocytes; many tumour cells contained compound melanosomes, but not premelanosomes, suggesting transfer of melanin from melanocytes to tumour cells. Melanocyte colonization of malignant tumours is a curious phenomenon the significance of which remains to be elucidated.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*