Brief Reports
Malignant melanoma arising in a seborrheic keratosis,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1067/mjd.2000.103634Get rights and content

Abstract

We report a case of malignant melanoma associated with seborrheic keratosis. This has been reported rarely in the literature, with disagreement regarding whether it is coincidental or whether malignant transformation occurs. Because seborrheic keratoses are common and association with malignant melanoma is very rare, we conclude that the association is coincidental. However, because of the association of other malignancies, a biopsy of any suspect or changing seborrheic keratosis is essential. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;42:831-3.)

Section snippets

CASE REPORT

A 68-year-old man presented to the dermatology clinic for a general skin screening examination. A pigmented lesion was noted on the right side of his back. The lesion was a 1 × 1 cm, darkly pigmented, hyperkeratotic, stuck-on–appearing plaque with visible horn cysts (Fig 1).

. Hyperkeratotic plaque with irregular pigmentation and visible horn cysts.

At the base of the lesion there was some subtle underlying dermal pigmentation. Excision and histologic examination revealed a nodular malignant

DISCUSSION

The occurrence of a malignant melanoma arising in a seborrheic keratosis is rare. Yakar et al1 presented one such case and concluded that this association was coincidental and did not represent a malignant transformation of the seborrheic keratosis. Jones-Caballero et al2 presented another case and also concluded that this was more likely coincidence than malignant transformation. They did point out that having a benign lesion such as a seborrheic keratosis does not prevent the eventual

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  • M Jones-Caballero et al.

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    Br J Dermatol

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  • CD Cascajo et al.

    Malignant neoplasms associated with seborrheic keratoses

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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The views and opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the US Army.

☆☆

Reprint requests: Robert Zabel, DO, Department of Medicine, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, 5005 N Piedras St, El Paso, TX 79920-5001.

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