Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of melanoma metastatic to the pancreas: report of two cases and review.
Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm which originates from melanocytes. Surgical exploration for abdominal metastases of cutaneous melanoma reveals pancreatic metastases in 16 % of patients which is usually accompanied by other intra-abdominal spread. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of primary and metastatic pancreatic masses have already been described. We report the first use of EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma metastatic to the pancreas. As our cases illustrate, these lesions may present as either cystic or solid pancreatic masses. Preparation of a cell block from the FNA aspirate and use of immunostaining may help to obtain the diagnosis. Despite thorough examination of the skin and mucous membranes, however, a primary site might not be found in these patients.
DeWitt
J M
JM
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Indiana University Medical Center, 550 N. University Boulevard, UH 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5121, USA. jodewitt@iupui.edu
Chappo
J
J
Sherman
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed