Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand  2016;21(4):238-242

doi:10.12790/jkssh.2016.21.4.238

Nodular Melanoma on the Tip of the Thumb.

Su Hyun CHOI 1 ; Hong Bae JEON ; Ja Hea GU

Affiliations

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Keywords

Melanoma; Nodular melanoma; Chronic ulcer; Finger tip

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Nodular type malignant melanoma is uncommon in fingers. In previous publications, treatment, diagnosis and case reports of subungal melanoma is often, however fingertip lesion was not focused. A 64-year-old woman who had a non-healing red and dark colored nodular mass with ulceration over the finger tip in the right thumb visited our clinics. Biopsy results was malignant melanoma then we performed amputation surgery of distal phalanx. Lymph node biopsy and resection margin was negative for melanoma. Chemotherapy was administered immediately. After 5 months, pulmonary nodular lesion was found and diagnosed as metastatic malignant melanoma by the wedge resection surgery. The patient is treated for additional chemotherapy consistently and disease free for 2 years. Nodular type melanoma of the finger is uncommon and it could be presented as ulceration and amelanotic nodular mass. Therefore we recommend biopsy to diagnose correctly if there are chronic non healing lesions on the fingers.