Primary malignant melanoma of the anterior mediastinum is extremely rare, accounting for 0.1-0.5% of all primary malignant neoplasms. These tumors may be mistakenly diagnosed as lymphomas, thymic carcinomas and malignant germ-cell tumors of the mediastinum. We describe two cases of primary malignant melanomas of the anterior mediastinum and report their CT and pathology findings.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; Melanoma/pathology/*radiography ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is exceedingly rare. The existence of primary malignant melanoma in the esophagus had been in doubt until the presence of benign melanocytes was demonstrated within the esophagus. Hematogenous and lymphatic metastases are common. The prognosis is poor even after a radical procedure due to early metastasis. We report here two cases of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus. One is a melanotic melanoma and the other is an amelanotic melanoma.
Adult ; Case Report ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Female ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary ; Liver Neoplasms/radiography ; Male ; Melanoma/pathology* ; Melanoma, Amelanotic/pathology* ; Middle Age ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To describe computed tomography (CT) features of metastatic gallbladder (GB) tumors (MGTs) from various primary tumors and to determine whether there are differential imaging features of MGTs according to different primary tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients who had pathologically confirmed MGTs and underwent CT were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical findings including presenting symptoms, type of surgery, and interval between primary and metastatic tumors were recorded. Histologic features of primary tumor and MGTs including depth of invasion were also reviewed. Imaging findings were analyzed for the location and morphology of MGTs, pattern and degree of enhancement, depth of invasion, presence of intact overlying mucosa, and concordance between imaging features of primary and metastatic tumors. Significant differences between the histologies of MGTs and imaging features were determined. RESULTS: The most common primary tumor metastasized to the GB was gastric cancer (n = 8), followed by renal cell carcinoma (n = 4) and hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 3). All MGTs (n = 21) manifested as infiltrative wall thickenings (n = 15) or as polypoid lesions (n = 6) on CT, similar to the features of primary GB cancers. There were significant differences in the morphology of MGTs, enhancement pattern, enhancement degree, and depth of invasion according to the histology of primary tumors (p < 0.05). Metastatic adenocarcinomas of the GB manifested as infiltrative and persistently enhancing wall thickenings, while non-adenocarcinomatous metastases usually manifested as polypoid lesions with early wash-in and wash-out. CONCLUSION: Although CT findings of MGTs are similar to those of primary GB cancer, they are significantly different between the various histologies of primary tumors.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology/radiography/secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology/radiography/secondary ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology/radiography/secondary ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology/radiography/secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography/*secondary ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology ; Male ; Melanoma/pathology/radiography/secondary ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Foramen Magnum ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Melanocytes ; pathology ; Melanoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Skull Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

No abstract available.
Aged ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/*secondary ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography/*secondary ; Melanoma/*pathology ; Skin Neoplasms/*pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

18-Fluoredeoxyglucose position emission tomography and computed tomography (F-18FDG PET/CT) scanning has been useful in the evaluation of malignant disorders and has been extensively used in cancer screening.1 However, F-18FDG uptake was not found to be specific for cancer diagnosis. Here, we describe increased F-18FDG uptake on PET/CT caused by extensive tuberculous lymphadenitis in a 62-year-old woman with malignant melanoma.
Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*diagnostic use ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis/*diagnosis ; Melanoma/*complications/*pathology/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography/*methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

A diffuse interstitial infiltrative pattern of lung metastasis in a patient with malignant melanoma is rare and can be confused with benign conditions such as pulmonary edema or drug-induced pneumonitis. We experienced a case of diffuse interstitial infiltrative lung metastasis in malignant melanoma in a 37-year-old man. This case was confirmed by a transbronchial lung biopsy. We herein describe the findings on CT and positron emission tomography scan.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis/*secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Melanoma/diagnosis/*secondary ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Skin Neoplasms/*pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the pathologic diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EH) in needle biopsy specimens.

METHODSFive cases of hepatic EH diagnosed in needle biopsies encountered during the period from 1999 to 2010 in Beijing Cancer Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The specimens were formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Immunohistochemical study was also carried out.

RESULTSAll the 5 patients were females. The age ranged from 23 to 47 years (mean = 39 years). The tumors in 4 patients were multiple and diagnosed as "metastasis" on ultrasound examination. The blood test results in all of the 5 patients were normal. Histologically, the tumor cells had an epithelioid appearance and were arranged in cords, solid nests or isolation, amongst a myxoid or hyaline matrix. The tumor cells contained scattered intracytoplasmic vacuoles which sometimes harbored red blood cells. There was no evidence of significant cellular pleomorphism, high mitotic activity and necrosis. Immunohistochemically, all of the 5 cases were positive for at least two endothelial markers (CD31, CD34 and factor VIII-related antigen). Smooth muscle actin was expressed in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of hepatic EH can be established in needle biopsy specimens. The histologic pattern, when coupled with immunohistochemical findings, is useful in arriving at the correct diagnosis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangiosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism