Malignant melanoma differential diagnosis

Several papers have appeared on the use of immunohis-tology for the separation of benign and malignant mela-nocytic neoplasms of various types. In particular, the differential diagnosis of Spitz nevus versus melanoma has been discussed several times in reference to their relative expression of mutant pl6 and p53 proteins, Ki-67, Ki-S5, S100P-A6, and other markers relating to cellular... 

The same basic approach may be used when the differential diagnosis is that of metastatic serosal melanoma versus malignant mesothelioma, except that antibodies to calretinin, thrombomodulin, and HBME-1 should be included. The great majority of mesotheliomas, if not all of them, will express at least one of the latter three determinants, whereas MM is non-reactive for all of them.i " ... 

Gleason BC, Nascimento AF. HMB-45 and Melan-A are useful in the differential diagnosis between granular cell tumor and malignant melanoma. Am J Dermatopathol. 2007 29 22-27. 

Gutter KC, Ralfkiaer E, Skinner J, et al. An immunocytochemi-cal study of malignant melanoma and its differential diagnosis from other malignant tumours. J Clin Pathol. 1985 38 1353-1357. 

Multiple lesions can be produced by degenerative, vascular, and infectious diseases, or by neoplasms. Regarding neoplasms, the M-rule for differential diagnosis of common multiple central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms includes metastases, malignant lymphoma, melanoma, and medulloblastoma. ... 

Diagnosis is frequently made on clinical appearance alone, but the differential diagnoses include superficial BCC, Bowen s disease, early SCC, and even amelanotic melanoma. A skin biopsy may be indicated in selected cases where there is clinical doubt or the suspicion of invasive malignancy. Other diagnoses that need to be considered, particularly in patients with large confluent areas of erythema and scaling, can sometimes cause AK to be mistaken for focal areas of... 

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