Metastatic melanoma of unknown primary in the temporalis muscle

Melanomas are aggressive cancers that present as cutaneous, mucosal and ocular lesions with the ability to metastasise widely. There are, however, occasions where lesions are found in distant sites such as lymph nodes, viscera and subcutaneous tissues without clinically apparent skin involvement. This is known as metastatic melanoma of unknown primary (MUP). Its presentation in skeletal muscle is rare, and the available literature is sparse. This article presents an 85-year-old woman with a MUP presenting in the right temporalis muscle, which was diagnosed with the aid of the ultrasound-guided core biopsy. The melanoma deposit was successfully excised, and no recurrence was identified. The patient is now under close follow-up.