title: Malignant melanoma with preserved hairs: a snap shot could suggest the development from an acquired melanocytic nevus.
abstract: 63-year-old man presented with a dome-shaped, black nodule on his right forehead, where hairs were preserved. The black surface tone measured 7 mm in diameter and spread irregularly from the periphery of the nodule. He had been conscious of the preceding, black macule for approximately 50 years. A snap shot of the patient in adolescence showed a tiny, black macule, which was a few millimeters in diameter. Histological examination demonstrated irregular proliferation of melanoma cells from the epidermis to the dermis. Partially, there were well-circumscribed, oval nests composed of nevus cells in the acanthotic epidermis and follicles. Nevus cells were also seen in the dermal component, presenting a burnt-out appearance. In this case, the small final size, the preserved hairs and the snap shot suggested a preceding, acquired melanocytic nevus. Malignant melanoma could arise from acquired melanocytic nevus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
authors.forename: Sachio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouraba
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Akiteru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumakiri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D005546:Forehead; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*