Metastatic melanoma involving a genetically confirmed angiofibroma of soft tissue: A previously unreported type of tumor-to-tumor metastasis

J Cutan Pathol. 2023 Mar;50(3):220-222. doi: 10.1111/cup.14366. Epub 2022 Dec 14.

Abstract

Tumor-to-tumor metastases are an uncommon phenomenon and are very rare in the context of malignant melanoma. This case report describes a 73-year-old male who underwent an excision of a melanoma from his forehead. Six months later, he developed metastatic disease, including metastasis to a genetically confirmed angiofibroma of soft tissue of the abdominal wall. Angiofibroma of soft tissue is a relatively recently described benign fibrovascular soft tissue tumor, and there appear to be no previous reports of it being a recipient tumor for a metastasis. Awareness of the phenomenon of tumor-to-tumor metastasis and of the distinctive morphologic and molecular genetic features of angiofibroma are critical to avoid misdiagnosis of this very rare event as "dedifferentiated" melanoma.

Keywords: angiofibroma of soft tissue; immunohistochemistry; metastatic melanoma; molecular genetics; tumor-to-tumor metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiofibroma* / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melanoma* / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary*
  • Skin Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms* / pathology