title: Diffuse melanosis in metastatic melanoma. Further evidence for disseminated single cell metastases in the skin.
abstract: Electron microscopy (EM) and electron microscopic cytochemistry have shown that diffuse melanosis in advanced metastatic melanoma is the result of an unlimited spread of single melanoma cells throughout the dermis; these cells retain their melanogenic capacity and continue to produce melanized melanosomes which eventually are deposited within dermal macrophages and thus impart to the skin a diffuse slate-blue color. These findings are in accordance with previous observations in a similar patient and thus support the concept that single cell metastasis represents a common pathogenic event in these patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure