title: [A case of small-cell malignant melanoma in a pregnant patient].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant melanoma (MM) is an aggressive neoplasm that may affect pregnant women. Malignant melanoma with small-cell morphology (MMSCM) is a rare variant of MM that can cause confusion in its diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a fatal case of MMSCM in a pregnant woman, highlighting immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a very useful tool in the final diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 22-year-old pregnant female presented with a 5-cm cutaneous tumor in her right leg. The lesion was excised but the patient refused any further therapy. The natural outcome of this neoplasm occurred with local recurrence and multiple metastases to the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MM should be included in the differential diagnosis of small-cell cutaneous tumor, and IHC is mandatory for diagnosis confirmation. The recommended suggested screening includes, as a minimum, one sensitive marker (S-100 protein) and one specific (HMB45) marker for melanogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Patològica, Hospital de Especialidades 25, Centro Médico Nacional del Noreste. acald911@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anna Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Calderón Garcidueñas
authors.forename: Irma Yadira
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Dragustinovis Valdez
authors.forename: Edmundo Erbey
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Castelán Maldonado
authors.forename: Pompa Angel
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zavala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*