title: Malignant melanoma with neural differentiation: an exceptional case report and brief review of the pertinent literature.
abstract: : The term neurotropic melanoma has been used to refer to malignant melanoma with associated infiltration of nerve or "neural differentiation"--that is, melanoma cells exhibiting cytological characteristics of nerve cells. Historically, neurotropic melanoma has generally been discussed within the context of desmoplastic melanoma. We report an exceptional case of melanoma notable for a very well-differentiated neural component that was contiguous with obvious overlying melanoma. After careful consideration of all pertinent histological features, the overall diagnostic impression was that of melanoma with associated "malignant neurotization." We have not encountered a previously reported case with such a well-differentiated neural component. The following article details our exceptional case of melanoma with "malignant neurotization" and presents a discussion of the differential diagnosis and brief review of the pertinent literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dry
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shintaku
authors.forename: G Peter
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sarantopoulos
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma