title: Desmoplastic melanoma: a challenge for the oncologist.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical, pathologic and genetic features of desmoplastic melanoma (DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of all DM records from 1991 to 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common location of DMs was the head and neck (69%); median age and follow-up were 60.5 and 7.3 years, respectively. A familial predisposition for DMs and others malignancies was analyzed. Thin Breslow thickness (<4.5 mm) was associated with an intraepidermal component or a previous lentigo maligna, whereas high Breslow thickness (>4.5 mm) was observed in 'pure' DM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DM could progress from an early phase, characterized by an intraepidermal component, to late phase, characterized by a dermal nodule. This hypothesis correlates with melanoma genetic and NF1 mutation, which could be an early event in the progression of DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, Dermatology Unit, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfredini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental & Morphological Sciences with Interest Transplant, Oncological & Regenerative Medicine, Dermatology Unit, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Losi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic & Clinical Medicine & Public Health, Clinical Pathology Unit, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccaferri
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic & Clinical Medicine & Public Health, Clinical Pathology Unit, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic & Clinical Medicine & Public Health, Clinical Pathology Unit, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: NF1; desmoplastic melanoma; lentigo maligna melanoma; mixed desmoplastic melanoma; pure desmoplastic melanoma; spindle cell melanoma; stromal collagenization