title: Malignant melanoma mimicking giant cell variant of glioblastoma multiforme: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: We present a case of metastatic malignant melanoma in a patient initially diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, giant cell variant. A forty year old female presented to our institution for a re-resection of a recurrent right parietal lobe mass, presumed to be recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. PET scan during preoperative evaluation revealed a 3 cm left lower lobe lung mass. Metastatic glioblastoma to lung was considered in the differential diagnosis. Resection of the brain mass revealed a highly pleomorphic giant and spindle cell lesion with an immunophenotype strongly supportive of melanoma. Immunostains for melanocytic markers were subsequently performed on the lung biopsy specimen, and demonstrated diffuse staining of the atypical cells, supporting the diagnosis of malignant melanoma in the lung. This case demonstrates the importance of considering melanoma in the differential in any tumor with high grade features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ramir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arcega
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Haodong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Melanoma; giant cell variant glioblastoma multiforme; pleormorphic lung carcinoma