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Subungual melanoma with osteocartilaginous differentiation

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Abstract

Osteocartilaginous metaplasia is known to occur rarely in melanomas, particularly in subungual melanomas. We present a case of a calcified subungual soft tissue tumour in which biopsy of the lesion showed malignant round and spindle-shaped tumour cells, many of which were associated with the formation of cartilage and osteoid-like material. Subsequent resection showed clear histological evidence of a subungual melanoma. Tumour cells expressed S100, melan-A and neurone-specific enolase but were negative for HMB45. Diagnostic radiological and histological features and the nature of the osteocartilaginous differentiation within this lesion is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Alan Darby for help in diagnosing this lesion.

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Correspondence to N. A. Athanasou.

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Giele, H., Hollowood, K., Gibbons, C.L.M.H. et al. Subungual melanoma with osteocartilaginous differentiation. Skeletal Radiol 32, 724–727 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-003-0697-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-003-0697-y

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