HMB-45 staining for cytology of primary melanoma of the vagina. A case report.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Malignant melanoma in the vagina is very rare, but its diagnosis is usually easy if a melanin pigment is present. With cytodiagnosis, however, it is difficult to differentiate amelanotic melanoma or scantily pigmented melanoma from other conditions. In the present case, monoclonal antibody HMB-45, the efficacy of which has been established in histologic studies, was used in the cytodiagnosis of amelanotic melanoma in the vagina.

CASE:

A woman, aged 78 years, presented with a brownish, nodular tumor, diameter 3 cm, in the vagina. Scraping smears with Papanicolaou staining showed nonepithelial malignant cells without granules suggesting melanin. Smears stained with HMB-45 showed positive immunoreactivity. The diagnosis underwent histologic confirmation of amelanotic melanoma on the initial biopsy.

CONCLUSION:

Cytodiagnosis was made with HMB-45, which proved very effective in the differential cytodiagnosis of amelanotic melanoma and scantily pigmented melanoma, particularly because it obviated the need for tissue invasion.

• Authors: M Takehara, E Ito, T Saito, Y Nishioka, K Ashihara, S Yamashita, M Koizumi, R Kudo
• Journal: Acta cytologica (Acta Cytol) 2000 Nov-Dec Vol. 44 Issue 6 Pg. 1077-80 ISSN: 0001-5547 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 11127738 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Neoplasm Proteins

Topics

• Aged
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Female
• Humans
• Melanoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Neoplasm Proteins (metabolism)
• Vaginal Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)