title: [Cutaneous regressing/regressed malignant melanoma: a clinicopathologic analysis of 8 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis of cutaneous regressing/regressed melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical study by EnVision method were performed in 8 cases of cutaneous regressing/regressed melanoma. The clinical presentation, treatment and follow-up data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age of the patients ranged from 40 to 69 years (mean 58 years). The male-to-female ratio was 3: 1. Tumors were located on the back (4 cases), sole of the foot (2 cases), ventral aspect of the toes (1 case), and the forearm (1 case). Clinically, 6 patients presented with progressive black mole of the skin, followed by subsequent focal hypopigmentation, even scarring. Two patients presented with multiple foci of dark-brown pigmentation. Microscopically, 3 cases were completely regressed malignant melanoma. Tumoral melanosis was found in 1 of 3 cases. The other 5 cases were melanoma with severe regression. The extent of regression ranged from 75% to 90%. The Breslow depth of the tumors ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 mm. Immunohistochemically, both metastatic and primary tumor cells were diffusely positive for S-100, HMB45 and Melan A, while melanophages were positive for CD68. Follow-up data were available in 8 patients, ranging from 8 to 27 months. Five patients were alive with no evidence of disease, 1 patient was alive with stable disease and 2 patients died of metastatic melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correlation between clinical presentation and pathologic features is important for diagnosis of cutaneous regressing/regressed melanoma. Thin melanoma with extensive regression ( ≥ 75%) should not been regarded as low metastatic risk and wide excision combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University and Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xu-xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yun-yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Li-wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: E-mail: kyunyi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jin-cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001415:Back / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D058965:MART-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008548:Melanosis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014034:Toes / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009418:S100 Proteins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule