Brain metastases of malignant melanoma showing unbalanced whole arm chromosomal translocations der (8;14) (q10; q10) and der (11;15) (q10; q10) in a Japanese patient

Since malignant melanoma is a rare malignancy in Japan, little is known abo ut the cytogenetic abnormalities in Japanese patients. We report a case of malignant melanoma showing complex chromosomal abnormalities. A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of anorexia, delirium, and righ t hemiplegia. Cranial CT disclosed several metastatic brain tumors. Multipl e subcutaneous and intra-abdominal metastases were also found. A diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma was made by biopsy of a subcutaneous tumor . Chromosomal analysis of the tumor cells disclosed complex karyotypic abno rmalities including novel unbalanced whole arm translocations der (8; 14) ( q10; q10) and der (11; 15) (q10; q10).