Desmoplastic melanoma: a diagnostic dilemma

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is an uncommonly encountered type of melanoma. A pigmentation is frequently absent, although a lentigo or lentigomaligna-like discolouration, adjacent to the nodule, is not uncommon. Hence, the clinical impression at presentation may vary from those of basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas, dermatofibromas or sarcomas to cysts and indurated plaque-like lesions which resemble scars. Making a cinical diagnosis of this tumour is difficult and it may very often mislead the physician. The clinical appearance of DM may be highly variable and the diagnosis of the tumour is difficult. We are reporting a case of DM which was diagnosed histopathologically and confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), for its rarity and unique presentation.