engleski

AN INCIDENTAL FINDING OF NODAL NECK RECURRENCE OF CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT MELANOMA AFTER A 34-YEAR DISEASE-FREE PERIOD

The authors report a case of a 64-year-old man who had nodal recurrence of melanoma 34 years after the primary diagnosis of a cutaneous melanoma on his back. Neck ultrasound confirmed an oval anechogenic/hypoechogenic lobular lesion (1.6x1.7 cm) in the right supraclavicular fossa. Fine-needle aspiration revealed sparse population of the poorly preserved malignant cells and bare malignant nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Extirpation of the lymph node was done and the histopathologic diagnosis confirmed metastatic melanoma. The man was referred to positron emission tomography/ computed tomography, dermatologist, ophthalmologist and gastroenterologist for further management to exclude other potential sites of new primary melanoma. It is one of the longest disease-free latency periods between the primary melanoma diagnosis and recurrence reported to date. This article suggests melanoma to be a disease with a potentially lifelong risk of recurrence, however, late recurrences are very rare. The clinicians and patients must be vigilant and aware of the risk of late recurrences

melanoma ; ultra-late recurrence ; supraclavicular region ; neck dissection

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