Malignant melanoma showing smooth muscle differentiation.
A unique case of a metastatic non-desmoplastic sarcomatoid malignant melanoma in an axillary lymph node showing smooth muscle differentiation in a 54 year old woman is described. The tumour cells exhibited alpha-smooth muscle actin, HHF-35 and desmin positivity but were negative for S100 protein and HMB-45. Ultrastructural examination revealed smooth muscle phenotype and there was no evidence of myofibroblastic differentiation, a feature described previously in desmoplastic melanomas.
Banerjee
S S
SS
Department of Pathology, Christie Hospital, Manchester.
Bishop
P W
PW
Nicholson
C M
CM
Eyden
B P
BP
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged
D000199:Actins; D003893:Desmin