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Cartilaginous Transdifferentiation in Melanoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

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Abstract

Malignant melanoma is a formidable tumor originating from melanocytes of neural crest origin, found in various anatomical locations, primarily in the skin, followed by the eyes and mucosal membranes. This tumor stands out due to its remarkable phenotypic diversity. Transdifferentiation, the process of differentiation into cell lineages other than the one from which the tumor originated, and phenotypic plasticity, characterized by changes in behavior, morphology, and physiology in response to different environmental conditions, can make melanoma a diagnostic conundrum for unwary pathologists. In this case report, we present a challenging case of melanoma with cartilaginous transdifferentiation to shed light on its clinical, pathological, and molecular aspects.

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Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to the patient’s family, our surgical and pathology colleagues, and molecular scientists whose contributions were instrumental in reaching the final diagnosis.

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Correspondence to Divya Vijayanarasimha.

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Gowda, V.V., Vijayanarasimha, D., Srihari, S.M. et al. Cartilaginous Transdifferentiation in Melanoma: A Diagnostic Challenge. Indian J Surg Oncol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-024-01930-0

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