Primary invasive melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (collision tumor) with blue nevus‐like cutaneous metastases

Abstract

The simultaneous presence of two disparate neoplasms occurring in the same specimen has been well documented, albeit uncommonly. The juxtaposition of malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been rarely reported in case reports, with most cases describing melanoma in situ and BCC. We present two cases of invasive melanoma (Clark level IV, no microscopic satellites present) intimately associated with BCC, and in areas distinction of the two lesions was difficult. Immunohistochemical studies delineated the two cell populations. In addition, one patient presented with multiple cutaneous metastases, all simulating blue nevi. The metastases occurred in the same anatomical region as the primary tumor, and histologically consisted of pigmented dendritic melanocytes and melanophages in the superficial and mid-dermis and arranged in a blue nevus-like lesion. Histologic clues suggesting the possibility of a metastatic melanoma included a sparse lymphocytic infiltrate, the presence of an epithelioid component and atypia of the dendritic melanocytes. However, without appropriate clinical history, the lesions could be overlooked as ordinary blue nevus. Collision tumors containing invasive melanoma and BCC are rare and this is the first report of a collision tumor with blue nevus-like metastasis. Awareness of this phenomenon and pattern of metastasis, together with the clinical findings will aid in the correct classification of these lesions.