Vitiligo-like Depigmentation Associated with Metastatic Melanoma of an Unknown Origin.
- Author:
Eun Ah CHO
1
;
Myung Ah LEE
;
Hoon KANG
;
Seung Dong LEE
;
Hyung Ok KIM
;
Young Min PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Metastatic melanoma; Vitiligo-like depigmentation
- MeSH: Axilla; Eyelids; Female; Forehead; Humans; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neck; Sigmoidoscopy
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2009;21(2):178-181
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Although malignant melanoma usually occurs after the diagnosis of vitiligo-like depigmentation, the latter is rarely followed by the former. We herein report on such a case in which recognition of the vitiligo-like depigmentation preceded diagnosing the metastatic melanoma by several months. A 56-year-old woman had first developed vitiligo-like depigmentation on the forehead, eyelids, neck and back 18 months previously and thereafter she detected a hard mass in the left axilla 2 months previously. Based on the histologic findings, the axillary mass was diagnosed as metastatic melanoma. To evaluate the primary tumor focus, thorough examinations that included PET-CT, bone scan and sigmoidoscopy were performed, but we couldn`t find any the original primary tumor. Our case suggests that the vitiligo-like depigmentation could be a sign that heralds metastatic melanoma.
