Melanin‑producing medullary thyroid carcinoma with transformation to melanoma: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Kei-Ichi Yoshikawa
    • Takehiro Tanimura
    • Masae Hoshi
    • Tatsuya Fukumori
    • Kazuo Shimizu
    • Shinya Ishii
    • Hiroyuki Onose
    • Emiko Yamada
    • Yoshiyuki Sugishita
    • Shigekazu Suzuki
    • Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa
    • Akira Miyauchi
    • Tetsu Yamada
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 15, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2467
  • Article Number: 34
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Abstract

Only one case of melanoma arising from melanin‑producing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has been reported previously. In the present study, a second such case was reported and compared with the previous one. The patient was an 86‑year‑old male who presented with a right anterior neck mass. Ultrasound revealed a nodule measuring 49x48x40 mm in the right lobe of the thyroid. The levels of serum calcitonin (2,298 pg/ml) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; 27.0 ng/ml) were markedly elevated. Aspiration cytology revealed suspected malignant anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and total thyroidectomy without neck nodal dissection was performed. On gross observation, the nodule was well encapsulated, soft, solid and black. Light microscopy indicated that the nodule was composed mainly of large, occasionally huge, pleomorphic cells with a solid or alveolar growth pattern. On immunohistochemistry, these cells were positive for melan‑A and S‑100 protein, and negative for thyroid transcription factor 1, calcitonin, chromogranin A and CEA. In the subcapsular area, melanin‑producing MTC was intimately intermingled with the pleomorphic cells. No primary site of the melanoma was detectable in other organs. At three years after surgery, the patient died due to metastasis of the melanoma to the brain. The previously reported case had no detectable recurrence or distant metastasis up to 11 years after surgery. In comparison with that case, the present case had a similar morphology but the outcome was poorer. Thus, the prognosis of melanoma that transforms from MTC appears to remain uncertain.
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February-2022
Volume 16 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 2049-9450
Online ISSN:2049-9469

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Spandidos Publications style
Yoshikawa K, Tanimura T, Hoshi M, Fukumori T, Shimizu K, Ishii S, Onose H, Yamada E, Sugishita Y, Suzuki S, Suzuki S, et al: Melanin‑producing medullary thyroid carcinoma with transformation to melanoma: A case report. Mol Clin Oncol 16: 34, 2022
APA
Yoshikawa, K., Tanimura, T., Hoshi, M., Fukumori, T., Shimizu, K., Ishii, S. ... Yamada, T. (2022). Melanin‑producing medullary thyroid carcinoma with transformation to melanoma: A case report. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 16, 34. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2467
MLA
Yoshikawa, K., Tanimura, T., Hoshi, M., Fukumori, T., Shimizu, K., Ishii, S., Onose, H., Yamada, E., Sugishita, Y., Suzuki, S., Hirokawa, M., Miyauchi, A., Yamada, T."Melanin‑producing medullary thyroid carcinoma with transformation to melanoma: A case report". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 16.2 (2022): 34.
Chicago
Yoshikawa, K., Tanimura, T., Hoshi, M., Fukumori, T., Shimizu, K., Ishii, S., Onose, H., Yamada, E., Sugishita, Y., Suzuki, S., Hirokawa, M., Miyauchi, A., Yamada, T."Melanin‑producing medullary thyroid carcinoma with transformation to melanoma: A case report". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 16, no. 2 (2022): 34. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2467