title: Amelanotic vulvar melanoma: a case report.
abstract: A 14-year-old girl stated that she has vulvar pruritus, pain, and bleeding and underwent a complete gynecological evaluation during which a suspicious 2-cm achromic lesion on her vulva was observed. Initially, it was suspected to be a pyogenic granuloma, in relation to the patient's age. A biopsy was taken, and a histopathological diagnosis of amelanotic mucosal melanoma was made. Pyogenic granuloma is a reactive hyperproliferation vascular response to trauma or other stimuli. It predominantly occurs in the second decade of life in young females, in relation to the vascular effects of female hormones. Primary mucosal melanoma is a rare and aggressive neoplasm, characterized by a higher aggressiveness and a worse prognosis than her cutaneous counterpart. The female genital tract is the second most common site of onset of mucosal melanoma; it represents the 3% of melanomas diagnosed in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Filippetti
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pitocco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000473:pathology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*