Lipomas of vulva have been reported only rarely. Benign tumors of the vulva are normally classified according to their origin as epithelial cell tumors (e.g., keratinocytic, adnexal and ectopic tumors), or mesenchymal cell tumors (e.g., vascular, fibrous, muscular, neural, adipose and melanocytic tumors). Vulvar lipomas need to be differentiated from liposarcomas, which are rare but are very similar to lipomas clinically. Here we present a rare case of large vulvar lipoma in an adolescent girl. JMS 2011;14(1):28-29
Background: Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare benign tumor, most frequently located in the posterior fossa and spinal canal. Our objective is to illustrate a case of this tumor that originated in the thoracolumbar area of the spine and had an uneventful clinical course after total resection.
Case description: We present the case of a 59 years old woman who presented with a medical history of ongoing neurological deterioration due to spastic paresis of the lower extremities. MRI of the thoracolumbar region identified a melanocytic melanoma as the underlying cause.
Conclusions: Melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system have a typical appearance on MRI scans, varying with the content and distribution of melanin. However, the differential diagnosis between malignant melanoma and melanocytoma still depends on pathological criteria. Spinal meningeal melanocytoma has a benign course, and it is amenable for gross total resection. The outcome is favorable following complete resection.
Cytohistological comparisons to the account of the clinical data and revision of cytological and histological preparations on a material received from 21 patients are made. Cytomorphological features of juvenile nevi (Spitz-nevus, Reed-nevus), dysplastic and atypical nevi and early forms of melanoma are described. The establishment at cytological examination of good-quality character of melanocytic defeats at the account of the clinical data could be the basis for appointment laser therapy. At revealing of atypical melanocytes in cytological preparations patients should be referred to specialized oncological institutions for surgical excision of tumor with the subsequent histological examination. Thus cytological examination could be used in dermatological practice as a method of screening pre-malignant melanocytic tumors and skin melanoma.
Background: PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma (PRAME) immunohistochemistry is increasingly used as diagnostic adjunct in the evaluation of melanocytic tumors. The expression and prognostic significance of PRAME in melanomas ≤1.0 mm and its diagnostic utility in the distinction from severely dysplastic compound nevi (SDN) have not been studied. Methods: We investigated and compared the immunohistochemical PRAME expression in 70 matched thin metastasizing and non-metastasizing melanomas and 45 nevi from patients with long-term follow-up (35 SDN and 10 unequivocally benign compound nevi). Results: Diffuse PRAME staining in >75% of lesional epidermal and dermal melanocytes identified 58.6% of thin melanomas but did not distinguish metastasizing from non-metastasizing melanomas (p = 0.81). A superficial atypical melanocytic proliferation of uncertain significance, in which the final diagnostic interpretation favored a SDN was the only nevus with diffuse PRAME expression (1/45). Melanomas and SDN with PRAME immunoreactivity exhibited different staining patterns. Most melanomas (67.6%) showed uniform PRAME expression in the in situ and invasive component, whereas most SDN (81.0%) showed a decreasing gradient with depth. Conclusion: Diffuse intraepidermal and dermal PRAME staining is highly specific for melanomas in the distinction from SDN. PRAME expression is not a prognostic biomarker in melanomas ≤1.0 mm.
Diffuse PRAME Expression Is Highly Specific for Thin Melanomas in the Distinction from Severely Dysplastic Nevi but Does Not Distinguish Metastasizing from Non-Metastasizing Thin Melanomas