Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma

Although rare, malignant melanoma may occur in children. Childhood melanomas account for only 0.3–3% of all melanomas. In particular the presence of congenital melanocytic nevi is associated with an increased risk of development of melanoma. We herein report a case of malignant melanoma that develop...

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Main Authors: Gulden Diniz, Hulya Tosun Yildirim, Selcen Yamaci, Nur Olgun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/298273
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author Gulden Diniz
Hulya Tosun Yildirim
Selcen Yamaci
Nur Olgun
author_facet Gulden Diniz
Hulya Tosun Yildirim
Selcen Yamaci
Nur Olgun
author_sort Gulden Diniz
collection DOAJ
description Although rare, malignant melanoma may occur in children. Childhood melanomas account for only 0.3–3% of all melanomas. In particular the presence of congenital melanocytic nevi is associated with an increased risk of development of melanoma. We herein report a case of malignant melanoma that developed on a giant congenital melanocytic nevus and made a metastasis to the subcutaneous tissue of neck in a two-year-old girl. The patient was hospitalized for differential diagnosis and treatment of cervical mass with a suspicion of hematological malignancy, because the malignant transformation of congenital nevus was not noticed before. In this case, we found out a nonpigmented malignant tumor of pleomorphic cells after the microscopic examination of subcutaneous lesion. Nonpigmented metastatic melanoma was diagnosed by several immunohistochemical and flow cytometric studies. She was offered palliative chemotherapy; however, her parents did not accept treatment. The patient died within 9 months of diagnosis. We emphasized here that the possibility of malignant melanoma in the differential diagnosis of childhood tumors should be kept in mind.
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spelling doaj-art-4b5a8fef786e44f28f288fc4bddb8ea32025-08-20T02:38:35ZengWileyCase Reports in Oncological Medicine2090-67062090-67142015-01-01201510.1155/2015/298273298273Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic DilemmaGulden Diniz0Hulya Tosun Yildirim1Selcen Yamaci2Nur Olgun3Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Pathology Laboratory, TurkeyIzmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children’s Hospital, Pathology Laboratory and Dermatology Clinics, TurkeyIzmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children’s Hospital, Pathology Laboratory and Dermatology Clinics, TurkeyPediatric Oncology Clinics, Izmir Dokuz Eylul University, TurkeyAlthough rare, malignant melanoma may occur in children. Childhood melanomas account for only 0.3–3% of all melanomas. In particular the presence of congenital melanocytic nevi is associated with an increased risk of development of melanoma. We herein report a case of malignant melanoma that developed on a giant congenital melanocytic nevus and made a metastasis to the subcutaneous tissue of neck in a two-year-old girl. The patient was hospitalized for differential diagnosis and treatment of cervical mass with a suspicion of hematological malignancy, because the malignant transformation of congenital nevus was not noticed before. In this case, we found out a nonpigmented malignant tumor of pleomorphic cells after the microscopic examination of subcutaneous lesion. Nonpigmented metastatic melanoma was diagnosed by several immunohistochemical and flow cytometric studies. She was offered palliative chemotherapy; however, her parents did not accept treatment. The patient died within 9 months of diagnosis. We emphasized here that the possibility of malignant melanoma in the differential diagnosis of childhood tumors should be kept in mind.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/298273
spellingShingle Gulden Diniz
Hulya Tosun Yildirim
Selcen Yamaci
Nur Olgun
Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
title Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma
title_full Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma
title_fullStr Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma
title_full_unstemmed Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma
title_short Nonpigmented Metastatic Melanoma in a Two-Year-Old Girl: A Serious Diagnostic Dilemma
title_sort nonpigmented metastatic melanoma in a two year old girl a serious diagnostic dilemma
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/298273
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AT selcenyamaci nonpigmentedmetastaticmelanomainatwoyearoldgirlaseriousdiagnosticdilemma
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