DermNet provides Google Translate, a free machine translation service. Note that this may not provide an exact translation in all languages

Translate

Malignant basomelanocytic tumour pathology

Author: Assoc Prof Patrick Emanuel, Dermatopathologist, Auckland, New Zealand, 2013.


toc-icon
Table of contents
arrow-right-small

Erickson et al. were the first to report malignant basomelanocytic tumour, describing a tumour with an intimate admixture of malignant basaloid cells and malignant melanocytes. Some authors (myself included) believe these tumours are a collision between a basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

Histology of malignant basomelanocytic tumour 

Low power examination of malignant basomelanocytic tumour show an infiltrating dermal tumour with features of a basal cell carcinoma replete with peripheral palisading and retraction around the tumour islands (figure 1). Higher power magnification may be needed to identify malignant melanocytes. Prominent nucleoli can be a helpful feature as these are not typically seen in regular basal cell carcinomas (figure 2).

Malignant basomelanocytic tumour pathology

Special studies for malignant basomelanocytic tumour

Melan-A can be used to highlight the malignant melanocytes infiltrating the basaloid islands (figure 3). The background basaloid proliferation can be illustrated with stains for p63 or keratins.

Differential diagnosis of malignant basomelanocytic tumour

The malignant melanoma could be overlooked as the scanning magnification architecture of the basal cell carcinoma is retained. The biphasic appearance of malignant basomelanocytic tumour may also mimic a basal cell carcinosarcoma. Immunohistochemical studies can prove useful in confirming the diagnosis.

 

References

  • Erickson LA, Myers JL, Martin C, et al. Malignant basomelanocytic tumor manifesting as metastatic melanoma. Am J Surg Pathol. 2004;28:1393–6.(7,9,10)]. PubMed
  • Rodriguez J, Nonaka D, Kuhn E, et al. Combined high-grade basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma of the skin (“malignant basomelanocytic tumor”). Am J Dermatopathol. 2005;27:314–8. PubMed
  • Busam JK, Halpern A, Marghoop AA. Malignant melanoma metastatic to a basal cell carcinoma simulating the pattern of a basomelanocytic tumor. Am J Surg Pathol. 2006;30:133–6. PubMed

On DermNet

Books about skin diseases

Text: Miiskin

 

Related information

Sign up to the newsletter