FNA diagnosis of malignant melanoma-recurrent and metastatic disease

We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with multiple right axillary swellings. Patient had a history of lump with pigmentation over back for which she was operated upon. There was also a nodule over resected scar on back. A final diagnosis of malignant melanoma (recurrent and metastatic to axillar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ Case Reports 2012, Vol.2012
Main Authors: Alam, Kiran, Jain, Anshu, Aziz, Meher, Misra, Aroonima
Format: Report
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with multiple right axillary swellings. Patient had a history of lump with pigmentation over back for which she was operated upon. There was also a nodule over resected scar on back. A final diagnosis of malignant melanoma (recurrent and metastatic to axillary lymph nodes) was rendered with the help of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Malignant melanomas are the most lethal of cancers of the skin and are notorious for the great variability of cytological presentation. We discuss the role of FNAC in early diagnosis and prognostication of recurrent and metastatic disease.
ISSN:1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2012-006887