Surgically resected pancreatic metastasis from nasal malignant melanoma: case report and literature review

Clin J Gastroenterol. 2019 Aug;12(4):372-381. doi: 10.1007/s12328-019-00936-4. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Abstract

A 13-mm mass was observed in the pancreatic head of a 70-year-old woman who had undergone melanoma resection in the nasal cavity 10 years earlier. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed that the mass consisted of multiple hypoechoic nodules. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration and pancreatic juice cytologies revealed neoplastic cells positive for HMB45 and melan-A staining with a few melanin granules, indicating the presence of a metastatic malignant melanoma. These additional stainings were evaluated after surgery. In the surgically resected specimen, the mass had multiple nodule-like structures, some of which were brown colored. Immunocytochemistry and electronic microscopy findings confirmed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Microscopic findings were similar to the nasal specimen; therefore, the pancreatic lesion was considered to be a metastasis from the nasal cavity.

Keywords: Endoscopic ultrasonography; Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration; Neuroendocrine neoplasm; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic juice cytology; Pancreatic tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration
  • Endosonography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / secondary*
  • Melanoma / surgery*
  • Nasal Cavity
  • Nose Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed