Early melanoma with halo eczema (Meyerson's phenomenon)

Abstract

We present a case of a 49-year-old man who presented with a solitary atypical pigmented lesion with a surrounding halo of dermatitis. Dermoscopy showed a pigment network at the periphery with areas of scar-like depigmentation, negative pigment network and erythema. The lesion was treated preoperatively with a potent topical corticosteroid resulting in a reduction of inflammation. Histology showed an early Clark level 1 melanoma arising within a severely dysplastic compound melanocytic naevus. There was an adjacent perivascular chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate with occasional eosinophils. Minimal, though definite spongiosis with parakeratosis was also present. The scar was subsequently re-excised achieving appropriate excision margins for melanoma in situ. Six months later, there was recurrence of dermatitis at the scar with no evidence of recurrent melanoma. To our knowledge, melanoma with Meyerson phenomenon has not been reported in the literature. This case highlights that all lesions should be evaluated on clinical and dermoscopic grounds regardless of the presence or absence of eczema. Our case adds yet another entity that may display Meyerson phenomenon and consequently a halo of eczema cannot be considered a reassuring sign when evaluating melanocytic lesions.