title: Amelanotic melanoma presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy.
abstract: We present a rare case of an amelanotic melanoma of unknown primary presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy. A 20-year-old man presented with large left sided neck lump, associated dysphagia and weight loss. Examination revealed a hard mass in the left posterior triangle of neck and sacral sensory loss. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the mass suggested a poorly differentiated carcinoma. Computed tomography showed a left sided, 8×13 cm cervical mass with liver, lung and bony metastases. Histological examination of the lymph nodal mass confirmed the diagnosis of a metastatic amelanotic melanoma. The patient was treated with glucocorticoids, radiation therapy for the sacral bony deposit, and chemotherapy. Despite an initial reduction of his target lesions, his condition subsequently deteriorated and he died 4 months after diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, Flat 92 Kennett House, Bushey Fields Road, Dudley DY12LU, UK.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karnwal
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hadjihannas
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sherif
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grumett
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karnwal
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathews