BALLOON CELL METASTATIC MELANOMA - AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENTIAL IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CLEAR-CELL TUMORS

Two cases of metastatic balloon cell melanoma are reported. Each tumou r was composed of large clear cells which did not contain melanin, gly cogen or fat, but showed positive staining for S-100 protein, NK/1-C3 and HMB-45. In each case the primary lesion was a cutaneous melanoma o f typical morphology. It is essential to consider balloon cell melanom a in the differential diagnosis of clear cell tumours. These cases emp hasize the need for an accurate clinical history.