title: Ocular melanoma metastatic to skin: the value of HMB-45 staining.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous metastatic disease is an important finding that may represent the first sign of systemic cancer, or, if already known, that may change tumor staging and thus dramatically altered therapeutic plans. Although cutaneous metastases are relatively frequent in patients with cutaneous melanoma, they are less so from ocular melanoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the value of HMB-45, staining in the detection of ocular melanoma metastatic to skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The immunohistochemical stain HMB-45 a monoclonal antibody directed against intact human melanoma cells, was employed on a skin biopsy specimen from a cutaneous tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HMB-45 staining was positive in the atypical hyperchromatic cells of the deep dermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMB-45 may be of value in the detection of ocular melanoma metastatic to skin. Cutaneous metastatic disease is a somewhat common and extremely important diagnosis. Although cutaneous metastases from cutaneous melanoma are relatively frequent, those from ocular melanomas are less so. Use of histochemical staining, especially the HMB-45 stain, allows confirmation of the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. roschwar@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kist
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Geover
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Ewa I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Koziorynska
authors.forename: W Clark
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins