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what do all these things mean?

Forums General Melanoma Community what do all these things mean?

  • Post
    hbecker
    Participant

      Hi, we're new here – new to melanoma and just learning. My husband's case is atypical – no sign of melanoma on the skin, just a mass removed from under his scalp. The path report doesn't include depth or thickness – just says that a "primary dermal melanoma gross measurement 9.5mm" is possible. "Large nodule filling the dermis with central necrosis composed of mitotically active, S100 positive, focal CD68 positive epithelioid cells." Also, immunoperoxidase stains found positive for nerve growth factor receptor and SOX 10, negative for Melan A and HMB45.

      Hi, we're new here – new to melanoma and just learning. My husband's case is atypical – no sign of melanoma on the skin, just a mass removed from under his scalp. The path report doesn't include depth or thickness – just says that a "primary dermal melanoma gross measurement 9.5mm" is possible. "Large nodule filling the dermis with central necrosis composed of mitotically active, S100 positive, focal CD68 positive epithelioid cells." Also, immunoperoxidase stains found positive for nerve growth factor receptor and SOX 10, negative for Melan A and HMB45.

      Does anyone know what those things mean?

      Thanks for whatever you can offer.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        lhaley
        Participant

          I'm sorry you've had to join us.  About 8% people that have melanoma do not have a primary mole. I'm sure that your husband has been now checked to see if there was a mole that was missed.  In his case they cannot tell the thickness of the mole because their was not one to measure. 

          S100 is the stain that they test for melanoma. 

          Have they done a PET scan so they can make sure that the rest of the body is clear?

          I hope someone else is able to help you with other terms.  The weekend is often slow.

          Linda

          stage IV  since 06 (presently 1 brain met)

            hbecker
            Participant

              Linda, thanks for responding so quickly – I really wasn't expecting to hear from anyone quite so soon. 

              The PET scan was clean – no evidence of FDG uptake anywhere but around the original site. There, it is described as "tiny, mildly to moderately hypermetabolic (SUV max 3.8) focal FDG uptake superficially in the scalp." They will do a wider excision and sentinel node biopsy in two weeks. 

              Be well – and thanks again!

              HB

              hbecker
              Participant

                Linda, thanks for responding so quickly – I really wasn't expecting to hear from anyone quite so soon. 

                The PET scan was clean – no evidence of FDG uptake anywhere but around the original site. There, it is described as "tiny, mildly to moderately hypermetabolic (SUV max 3.8) focal FDG uptake superficially in the scalp." They will do a wider excision and sentinel node biopsy in two weeks. 

                Be well – and thanks again!

                HB

                hbecker
                Participant

                  Linda, thanks for responding so quickly – I really wasn't expecting to hear from anyone quite so soon. 

                  The PET scan was clean – no evidence of FDG uptake anywhere but around the original site. There, it is described as "tiny, mildly to moderately hypermetabolic (SUV max 3.8) focal FDG uptake superficially in the scalp." They will do a wider excision and sentinel node biopsy in two weeks. 

                  Be well – and thanks again!

                  HB

                lhaley
                Participant

                  I'm sorry you've had to join us.  About 8% people that have melanoma do not have a primary mole. I'm sure that your husband has been now checked to see if there was a mole that was missed.  In his case they cannot tell the thickness of the mole because their was not one to measure. 

                  S100 is the stain that they test for melanoma. 

                  Have they done a PET scan so they can make sure that the rest of the body is clear?

                  I hope someone else is able to help you with other terms.  The weekend is often slow.

                  Linda

                  stage IV  since 06 (presently 1 brain met)

                  lhaley
                  Participant

                    I'm sorry you've had to join us.  About 8% people that have melanoma do not have a primary mole. I'm sure that your husband has been now checked to see if there was a mole that was missed.  In his case they cannot tell the thickness of the mole because their was not one to measure. 

                    S100 is the stain that they test for melanoma. 

                    Have they done a PET scan so they can make sure that the rest of the body is clear?

                    I hope someone else is able to help you with other terms.  The weekend is often slow.

                    Linda

                    stage IV  since 06 (presently 1 brain met)

                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Primary Dermal Melanoma

                      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14732666

                       

                      Primary dermal melanoma: a distinct subtype of melanoma.

                      Source

                      Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, Calif., USA. [email protected]

                      Abstract

                      BACKGROUND:

                      The term primary dermal melanoma has been used to describe a subtype of melanoma confined to the dermis and/or subcutaneous fat that histologically simulates metastasis but is associated with an unexpectedly prolonged survival. We report 7 cases of primary dermal melanoma diagnosed from 1998 to 2002 with no identifiable junctional or epidermal component or nevoid precursor. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were compared with known cases of cutaneous metastasis and nodular melanoma in an attempt to differentiate this entity from clinical and pathologic mimics.

                      OBSERVATIONS:

                      Seven patients had a single dermal and/or subcutaneous focus of melanoma. Metastatic staging workup findings were negative, including results from sentinel node and imaging studies. Mean Breslow depth was 7.0 mm, and mean maximum tumor diameter was 6.2 mm. The study cohort showed 100% survival at mean follow-up of 41 months (range, 10-64 months). Immunohistochemical analysis with S100, HMB-45, Ki-67, CD34, and p75 antibodies showed no significant staining patterns compared with metastatic and nodular melanomas.

                      CONCLUSIONS:

                      Primary dermal melanoma appears to be a distinct subtype of melanoma based on the excellent prognosis associated with this case series and others. Additional research focusing on cause, appropriate staging, and outcome of previously identified solitary dermal metastasis is warranted to further delineate this entity.

                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Primary Dermal Melanoma

                        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14732666

                         

                        Primary dermal melanoma: a distinct subtype of melanoma.

                        Source

                        Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, Calif., USA. [email protected]

                        Abstract

                        BACKGROUND:

                        The term primary dermal melanoma has been used to describe a subtype of melanoma confined to the dermis and/or subcutaneous fat that histologically simulates metastasis but is associated with an unexpectedly prolonged survival. We report 7 cases of primary dermal melanoma diagnosed from 1998 to 2002 with no identifiable junctional or epidermal component or nevoid precursor. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were compared with known cases of cutaneous metastasis and nodular melanoma in an attempt to differentiate this entity from clinical and pathologic mimics.

                        OBSERVATIONS:

                        Seven patients had a single dermal and/or subcutaneous focus of melanoma. Metastatic staging workup findings were negative, including results from sentinel node and imaging studies. Mean Breslow depth was 7.0 mm, and mean maximum tumor diameter was 6.2 mm. The study cohort showed 100% survival at mean follow-up of 41 months (range, 10-64 months). Immunohistochemical analysis with S100, HMB-45, Ki-67, CD34, and p75 antibodies showed no significant staining patterns compared with metastatic and nodular melanomas.

                        CONCLUSIONS:

                        Primary dermal melanoma appears to be a distinct subtype of melanoma based on the excellent prognosis associated with this case series and others. Additional research focusing on cause, appropriate staging, and outcome of previously identified solitary dermal metastasis is warranted to further delineate this entity.

                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Primary Dermal Melanoma

                          http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14732666

                           

                          Primary dermal melanoma: a distinct subtype of melanoma.

                          Source

                          Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, Calif., USA. [email protected]

                          Abstract

                          BACKGROUND:

                          The term primary dermal melanoma has been used to describe a subtype of melanoma confined to the dermis and/or subcutaneous fat that histologically simulates metastasis but is associated with an unexpectedly prolonged survival. We report 7 cases of primary dermal melanoma diagnosed from 1998 to 2002 with no identifiable junctional or epidermal component or nevoid precursor. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were compared with known cases of cutaneous metastasis and nodular melanoma in an attempt to differentiate this entity from clinical and pathologic mimics.

                          OBSERVATIONS:

                          Seven patients had a single dermal and/or subcutaneous focus of melanoma. Metastatic staging workup findings were negative, including results from sentinel node and imaging studies. Mean Breslow depth was 7.0 mm, and mean maximum tumor diameter was 6.2 mm. The study cohort showed 100% survival at mean follow-up of 41 months (range, 10-64 months). Immunohistochemical analysis with S100, HMB-45, Ki-67, CD34, and p75 antibodies showed no significant staining patterns compared with metastatic and nodular melanomas.

                          CONCLUSIONS:

                          Primary dermal melanoma appears to be a distinct subtype of melanoma based on the excellent prognosis associated with this case series and others. Additional research focusing on cause, appropriate staging, and outcome of previously identified solitary dermal metastasis is warranted to further delineate this entity.

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