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Metastatic malignant melanoma in bone marrow

Metastatic malignant melanoma in bone marrow
#00005675
Author: Jianfeng Zhu
Category: Laboratory Hematology > Non-hematopoietic malignancies involving the blood or bone marrow
Published Date: 07/11/2011

A 52 years old male presented with progressive bone pains, weight loss. laboratory work-up revealed red blood cell count 5.08×1012 /L, hemoglobin 153 g/L, and platelet count 121×109 /L, white blood cell count 6.79×109 /L, with a normal differential. skeletal survey showed multiple lytic lesions throughout the skeleton including the skull, mandible, ribs, scapulae, pelvis, sternum, vertebral and proximal limbs. A bone marrow aspirate and biopsy were performed. The aspirated marrow was grossly ink black in color. Microscopic examination of the iliac marrow by Wright’s stain showed numerous of melanin-laden cells, these cells were arranged singly or in clumps and varied in shape, being round or irregular. A large loose chromatin nucleus with one to two prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm contained a variable number of pigment deposits range from small to heavy clumps, and some pigment was extracellular. A few cells showed cytoplasmic vacuolations. Doubt melanoma with bone marrow metastase.