Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus. Brush cytology and histogenesis

The cytologic findings in a case of malignant melanoma of the esophagus in a 57-year-old male are described. Fiberoptic endoscopy showed a large brown mass in the lower tract of the esophagus and a strongly pigmented epithelium around the tumor. Brush cytology showed malignant melanoma cells with Fontana-Masson-positive granules and typical intranuclear vacuoles. The surgical specimen revealed a malignant melanoma of the esophagus, with the surrounding epithelium characterized by junctional changes and the presence of benign melanocytes in the basal layer. The latter finding is the only sure criterion for proving the primary nature of malignant melanoma of the esophagus.