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Occult satellite metastasis of an auricular melanoma
A 90-year-old man presented to our clinic with a dark, exophytic, hemorrhagic mass on the helix of his right auricle (Figure 1A). He had first noticed the lesion 6 months before.
Evaluation of the lesion with the standard ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter > 6 mm, Evolution/elevation) raised our suspicion of melanoma.1 We performed a wide, full-thickness, auricular wedge resection, which revealed a second dark lesion in the subcutaneous tissue of the upper border of the resected specimen. The rest of the second lesion was evident on the corresponding location of the edge of the remaining auricle (Figure 1B). Thus, we excised an additional strip of auricular tissue. The aesthetic result of the auricular reconstruction was quite good (Figure 1C).
Histopathologic study confirmed cutaneous melanoma and showed the second lesion to be a satellite melanoma metastasis (Figure 2). The patient refused to undergo staging investigations for lymph node and distant metastases. He died 1 year later of ischemic stroke.
IN-TRANSIT AND SATELLITE METASTASES
Melanoma is highly metastatic. In addition to regional lymph node and distant metastases, patients may develop in-transit metastases and satellite metastases.
In-transit metastases grow more than 2 cm away from the primary tumor but not beyond the regional lymph node basin. Satellite lesions are found within 2 cm of the primary melanoma.
As seen in our patient, satellite metastases are not always cutaneous and evident. This is also true of in-transit melanoma lesions. They can also be located in subcutaneous tissue, making them difficult to detect. The presence of satellite lesions is a sign of aggressive disease and requires a thorough evaluation for metastases.2
- Thomas L, Tranchand P, Berard F, Secchi T, Colin C, Moulin G. Semiological value of ABCDE criteria in the diagnosis of cutaneous pigmented tumors. Dermatology 1998; 197:11–17.
- Homsi J, Kashani-Sabet M, Messina JL, Daud A. Cutaneous melanoma: prognostic factors. Cancer Control 2005; 12:223–229.
A 90-year-old man presented to our clinic with a dark, exophytic, hemorrhagic mass on the helix of his right auricle (Figure 1A). He had first noticed the lesion 6 months before.
Evaluation of the lesion with the standard ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter > 6 mm, Evolution/elevation) raised our suspicion of melanoma.1 We performed a wide, full-thickness, auricular wedge resection, which revealed a second dark lesion in the subcutaneous tissue of the upper border of the resected specimen. The rest of the second lesion was evident on the corresponding location of the edge of the remaining auricle (Figure 1B). Thus, we excised an additional strip of auricular tissue. The aesthetic result of the auricular reconstruction was quite good (Figure 1C).
Histopathologic study confirmed cutaneous melanoma and showed the second lesion to be a satellite melanoma metastasis (Figure 2). The patient refused to undergo staging investigations for lymph node and distant metastases. He died 1 year later of ischemic stroke.
IN-TRANSIT AND SATELLITE METASTASES
Melanoma is highly metastatic. In addition to regional lymph node and distant metastases, patients may develop in-transit metastases and satellite metastases.
In-transit metastases grow more than 2 cm away from the primary tumor but not beyond the regional lymph node basin. Satellite lesions are found within 2 cm of the primary melanoma.
As seen in our patient, satellite metastases are not always cutaneous and evident. This is also true of in-transit melanoma lesions. They can also be located in subcutaneous tissue, making them difficult to detect. The presence of satellite lesions is a sign of aggressive disease and requires a thorough evaluation for metastases.2
A 90-year-old man presented to our clinic with a dark, exophytic, hemorrhagic mass on the helix of his right auricle (Figure 1A). He had first noticed the lesion 6 months before.
Evaluation of the lesion with the standard ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter > 6 mm, Evolution/elevation) raised our suspicion of melanoma.1 We performed a wide, full-thickness, auricular wedge resection, which revealed a second dark lesion in the subcutaneous tissue of the upper border of the resected specimen. The rest of the second lesion was evident on the corresponding location of the edge of the remaining auricle (Figure 1B). Thus, we excised an additional strip of auricular tissue. The aesthetic result of the auricular reconstruction was quite good (Figure 1C).
Histopathologic study confirmed cutaneous melanoma and showed the second lesion to be a satellite melanoma metastasis (Figure 2). The patient refused to undergo staging investigations for lymph node and distant metastases. He died 1 year later of ischemic stroke.
IN-TRANSIT AND SATELLITE METASTASES
Melanoma is highly metastatic. In addition to regional lymph node and distant metastases, patients may develop in-transit metastases and satellite metastases.
In-transit metastases grow more than 2 cm away from the primary tumor but not beyond the regional lymph node basin. Satellite lesions are found within 2 cm of the primary melanoma.
As seen in our patient, satellite metastases are not always cutaneous and evident. This is also true of in-transit melanoma lesions. They can also be located in subcutaneous tissue, making them difficult to detect. The presence of satellite lesions is a sign of aggressive disease and requires a thorough evaluation for metastases.2
- Thomas L, Tranchand P, Berard F, Secchi T, Colin C, Moulin G. Semiological value of ABCDE criteria in the diagnosis of cutaneous pigmented tumors. Dermatology 1998; 197:11–17.
- Homsi J, Kashani-Sabet M, Messina JL, Daud A. Cutaneous melanoma: prognostic factors. Cancer Control 2005; 12:223–229.
- Thomas L, Tranchand P, Berard F, Secchi T, Colin C, Moulin G. Semiological value of ABCDE criteria in the diagnosis of cutaneous pigmented tumors. Dermatology 1998; 197:11–17.
- Homsi J, Kashani-Sabet M, Messina JL, Daud A. Cutaneous melanoma: prognostic factors. Cancer Control 2005; 12:223–229.
