title: Combined cutaneous tumors with a melanoma component: A clinical, histologic, and molecular study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The histogenesis and clinical behavior of combined cutaneous tumors (CCTs) in which the mesenchymal component consists of melanoma remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to characterize the clinical, histologic, and molecular findings in CCTs with an epithelial and a melanoma component.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the records from 2 institutions for CCTs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed to assess chromosomal copy number alterations in both components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen CCTs were included. The most common subtype was the squamomelanocytic tumor (11), followed by the basomelanocytic tumor (3) and the trichoblastomelanoma (2). CCTs were more common in men (87%), on the head and neck (57%), and had extensive solar elastosis (81%). The median follow-up was 25 months (range, 8-167 months). One case had an adverse outcome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed chromosomal alterations in approximately 55% of the cases. Five cases showed chromosomal gains only in the melanocytic component. One case showed 11q13 gains in both the epithelial and melanocytic components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is retrospective and the sample is small.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low incidence of adverse outcomes suggests that CCT may be more indolent than noncombined tumors. 11q13 amplification in both components supports the theory of dual differentiation from a common progenitor cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Sapna M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yélamos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Christina Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sholl
authors.affiliation: Département de Biopathologie, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Fouchardiere
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitart
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: pgerami@nmff.org.
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerami
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008967:Molecular Biology; D018193:Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / Q000473:pathology*; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D018331:Nevus, Spindle Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: basomelanocytic tumor; biphenotypia; combined tumor; fluorescence in situ hybridization; melanoma; squamomelanocytic tumor; trichoblastomelanoma