Biomaterial Database

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus. Brush cytology and histogenesis. 1983

D Aldovini, and C Detassis, and F Piscioli

The cytologic findings in a case of malignant melanoma of the esophagus in a 57-year-old male are described. Fiberoptic endoscopy showed a large brown mass in the lower tract of the esophagus and a strongly pigmented epithelium around the tumor. Brush cytology showed malignant melanoma cells with Fontana-Masson-positive granules and typical intranuclear vacuoles. The surgical specimen revealed a malignant melanoma of the esophagus, with the surrounding epithelium characterized by junctional changes and the presence of benign melanocytes in the basal layer. The latter finding is the only sure criterion for proving the primary nature of malignant melanoma of the esophagus.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008545	Melanoma	A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445)	Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D003581	Cytodiagnosis	Diagnosis of the type and, when feasible, the cause of a pathologic process by means of microscopic study of cells in an exudate or other form of body fluid. (Stedman, 26th ed)	Cytodiagnoses
D004938	Esophageal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the ESOPHAGUS.	Cancer of Esophagus,Esophageal Cancer,Cancer of the Esophagus,Esophagus Cancer,Esophagus Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Esophageal,Cancer, Esophageal,Cancer, Esophagus,Cancers, Esophageal,Cancers, Esophagus,Esophageal Cancers,Esophageal Neoplasm,Esophagus Cancers,Esophagus Neoplasms,Neoplasm, Esophageal,Neoplasm, Esophagus,Neoplasms, Esophagus
D004945	Esophagoscopy	Endoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the esophagus.	Esophagoscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Esophagoscopic,Esophagoscopic Surgery,Surgery, Esophagoscopic,Esophagoscopic Surgeries,Esophagoscopic Surgical Procedure,Esophagoscopies,Procedure, Esophagoscopic Surgical,Procedures, Esophagoscopic Surgical,Surgeries, Esophagoscopic,Surgical Procedure, Esophagoscopic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man