DESMOPLASTIC NEUROTROPIC MELANOMA

Desmoplastic neurotropic melanoma (DNM) is a rare variant of a spindle cell melanoma. The majority of these tumors occur on the head and nec k of elderly patients, The rather variable clinical appearance (eg, fr equent lack of pigmentation) makes initial diagnosis often difficult. Histologically, DNM may show a lentiginous melanocytic proliferation w ith atypia and pleomorphic spindle cells in the dermis. Immunostaining for S-100 is usually positive although staining for HMB-45 is frequen tly absent. As with other melanomas, surgery is the first line treatme nt for DNM. Unlike other melanomas, however, survival for DNM may be b etter compared with other forms of melanoma. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B . Saunders Company.