Complete spontaneous regression of pulmonary metastatic melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Complete spontaneous regression of melanoma metastatic to the lungs is a rare event.


OBJECTIVE
To report a case of biopsy-proven melanoma metastatic to the lung with complete spontaneous regression.


METHODS
Multidisciplinary case report.


RESULTS
A 35-year-old white female was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma to the lung. A pleural biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Partial spontaneous regression was noted by a staging computed tomography scan prior to enrollment in an investigational protocol. Complete spontaneous regression occurred over 5 months without any form of conventional or alternative therapy, and the patient remains disease-free 3 years after diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case represents the seventh case of complete spontaneous regression of melanoma metastatic to the lung, and the only case with histologic confirmation of both the primary and pulmonary metastatic lesions. The patient was pregnant twice between the time of her initial diagnosis of primary melanoma and pulmonary metastatic disease.
Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0314, USA.
T S
TS
Wang
L
L
Lowe
J W
JW
Smith
I R
IR
Francis
V K
VK
Sondak
L
L
Dworzanian
S
S
Finkelstein
C L
CL
Slingluff
T M
TM
Johnson
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed