title: [A case of anatomo-clinical diagnosis of balloon cell melanoma metastasis].
abstract: The authors present a case of balloon cell melanoma which was not diagnosed on the skin. The diagnosis was later carried out both on matter from pleural effusion and on lymph node metastases. The cytological examination of the fluid obtained from pleural effusion revealed the presence of abundant neoplastic cells belonging probably to a malignant epithelial lung tumor. Despite several diagnostic examinations no evidence of a neoplastic lesion in the lungs was found. Later histology on metastatic axillary lymph nodes revealed a tumor with the features of a balloon cell melanoma. Immunohistochemical stains revealed a strong S-100 positivity. The patient underwent surgical treatment, but died 2 months later. The balloon cell melanoma is a rare variety of melanoma interpreted by several authors as the expression of a degenerative process caused by the immunological defence of the subject, combined with therapy. This hypothesis is supported by the evidence of high survival rates in some cases. So the importance of an early detection of the malignancy must be stressed once again, in order to avoid missing diagnoses on any skin lesion, though appearing benign to the naked eye.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Anatomia Patologic, Ospedale Martini di Torino.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cera
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis*
vernacular_title: Un caso di diagnosi anatomo-clinica di melanoma a cellule balloniformi su metastasi.