title: Small cell variant of malignant melanoma masquerading as lymphoma on fine-needle aspiration cytology: a case report.
abstract: The morphologic and immunohistochemical diversity of malignant melanoma is well known to pathologists but despite this widespread awareness the diagnosis remains a constant challenge, particularly when a noncutaneous or metastatic tumor is evaluated by fine-needle aspiration cytology. We present a case of the small cell variant of malignant melanoma mimicking lymphoma in a 78-year-old previously healthy male who presented with multiple pulmonary masses and a right-sided pleural effusion. This particular case was also immunoreactive for the hematopoietic marker CD43, a feature not previously reported in malignant melanoma. Cytologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of this case are presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53792-2472, USA.
authors.forename: Darya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buehler
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waknitz
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rehrauer
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ranheim
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051917:Leukosialin / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051917:Leukosialin; C465014:SPN protein, human