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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Detection and Isolation of Circulating Melanoma Cells using Photoacoustic Flowmetry
Published on: November 25, 2011
Small cell variant of malignant melanoma masquerading as lymphoma on fine-needle aspiration cytology: a case report
Darya Buehler1, Michelle Waknitz, William Rehrauer
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53792-2472, USA.
Abstract:
The morphologic and immunohistochemical diversity of malignant melanoma is well known to pathologists but despite this widespread awareness the diagnosis remains a constant challenge, particularly when a noncutaneous or metastatic tumor is evaluated by fine-needle aspiration cytology. We present a case of the small cell variant of malignant melanoma mimicking lymphoma in a 78-year-old previously healthy male who presented with multiple pulmonary masses and a right-sided pleural effusion. This particular case was also immunoreactive for the hematopoietic marker CD43, a feature not previously reported in malignant melanoma. Cytologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of this case are presented and discussed.
