Publication:


abstract

We present an interesting case report from a patient with a history of desmoplastic malignant melanoma (MM), who presented with a Thyroid nodule. The patient's clinical diagnosis included a benign thyroid nodule versus a primary thyroid malignancy or metastatic MM. fine-needle aspiration biopsy showed highly atypical spindle cells suspicious for metastatic MM. The acellular cell block prevented further studies such as immunohistochemical analysis. The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass, which showed a benign cystic thyroid nodule with an atypical cyst lining. Here, we report the presence of atypical cyst-lining cells in a patient with diagnosis of MM. The atypical cytology of the cyst-lining cells has been reported in the English literature; however, presence of significant cytological atypia, especially in a patient with a history of another malignancy, can be problematic. The cytopathologist should be aware of this entity and its diagnostic pitfalls. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012; © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Related Articles
Atypical squamous metaplasia in a benign cystic thyroid nodule mimicking high-grade carcinoma.
Diagn Cytopathol. 2011
Atypical squamous metaplasia in a benign cystic thyroid nodule mimicking high-grade carcinoma.
Pellicer DL, Sadow PM, Stephen A, Faquin WC. Diagn Cytopathol. 2011 Dec 5; . Epub 2011 Dec 5.
"Atypical" cells in fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens of benign thyroid cysts.
Cancer. 2005
"Atypical" cells in fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens of benign thyroid cysts.
Faquin WC, Cibas ES, Renshaw AA. Cancer. 2005 Apr 25; 105(2):71-9.
Implications of follicular neoplasms, atypia, and lesions suspicious for malignancy diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules.
Ann Surg. 2002
Implications of follicular neoplasms, atypia, and lesions suspicious for malignancy diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules.
Goldstein RE, Netterville JL, Burkey B, Johnson JE. Ann Surg. 2002 May; 235(5):656-62; discussion 662-4.
Review Fine-needle aspiration cytology of desmoplastic malignant melanoma metastatic to the parotid gland: case report and review of the literature.
Diagn Cytopathol. 2000
Review Fine-needle aspiration cytology of desmoplastic malignant melanoma metastatic to the parotid gland: case report and review of the literature.
Chhieng DC, Cangiarella JF, Waisman J, Cohen JM. Diagn Cytopathol. 2000 Feb; 22(2):97-100.
Review Malignant melanoma metastatic to the thyroid gland: a case report and review of the literature.
Ear Nose Throat J. 2009
Review Malignant melanoma metastatic to the thyroid gland: a case report and review of the literature.
Kung B, Aftab S, Wood M, Rosen D. Ear Nose Throat J. 2009 Jan; 88(1):E7.