Melanoma simulating atypical fibroxanthoma.

Abstract

Melanoma may present with a wide variety of clinicopathological presentations, among those very rarely lesions imitating atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX). While AFX usually is cured by complete excision, melanoma simulating AFX has a much more serious prognosis, and thus is important to be recognized correctly. The present series describes 4 cases of such melanomas in 3 patients whose exact diagnosis was (markedly) delayed due to unusual clinicopathological presentations including negative immunohistochemistry for melanocytic markers (S100 protein, MelanA/MART1, HMB45).