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

Yoshikawa,Kei-Ichi; Tanimura,Takehiro; Hoshi,Masae; Fukumori,Tatsuya; Shimizu,Kazuo; Ishii,Shinya; Onose,Hiroyuki; Yamada,Emiko; Sugishita,Yoshiyuki; Suzuki,Shigekazu; Hirokawa,Mitsuyoshi; Miyauchi,Akira; Yamada,Tetsu

doi:10.3892/mco.2021.2467

February-2022 Volume 16 Issue 2

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February-2022 Volume 16 Issue 2

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Case Report

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
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Affiliations: Department of Surgery, Kanaji Thyroid Hospital, Kita‑ku, Tokyo 114‑0015, Japan, Department of Internal Medicine, Kanaji Thyroid Hospital, Kita‑ku, Tokyo 114‑0015, Japan, Department of Laboratory, Kanaji Thyroid Hospital, Kita‑ku, Tokyo 114‑0015, Japan, Department of Cytology Room, Kanaji Thyroid Hospital, Kita‑ku, Tokyo 114‑0015, Japan, Department of Diagnostic Pathology and Cytology, Kuma Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650‑0011, Japan, Department of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650‑0011, Japan
Article Number: 34
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Published online on: December 15, 2021

https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2467
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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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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

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

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