Cutaneous metastatic breast carcinoma with melanocyte colonization: a clinical and dermoscopic mimic of malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Melanocyte colonization of breast carcinoma cells may occur in those tumors that breach the epidermal-dermal interface. The resultant melanin deposition in tumor cells rarely leads to clinical pigmentation of the tumor. Typically, selective staining methods are required to detect the pigment.


METHODS
The authors describe a 60-year-old woman with a history of mammary carcinoma and an irregularly pigmented nodule with peripheral globules and a blue-white veil on dermoscopy, which was a clinical and dermoscopic mimic of malignant melanoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of melanocyte colonization of non-melanocytic tumor cells and the dermoscopic-histologic correlations can aid in avoiding a potential pitfall, and emphasize the importance of such relationships, when using this tool.
Wyatt
Angela J
AJ
Department of Dermatology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10022, USA.
Agero
Anna Liza C
AL
Delgado
Ruby
R
Busam
Klaus J
KJ
Marghoob
Ashfaq A
AA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary