title: Neurotropic melanoma with prominent melanization.
abstract: Neurotropic melanoma has generally been described in the context of desmoplastic melanoma. The vast majority of melanomas displaying neurotropism contain relatively little or no melanin. Herein, we report an unusual case of neurotropic melanoma with prominent melanin content. The patient developed a tumor notable for pagetoid (superficial spreading) melanoma with partial regression and a deep component characterized by perineurial aggregates of melanophages and intraneural infiltration by melanoma cells. This case serves to alert dermatopathologists to the fact that the spectrum of neurotropic melanoma includes tumors with perineurial aggregates of pigment-containing cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barnhill
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bolognia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins