Abstract

A case of ungual malignant melanoma was described. A 66 year-old female visited to our hospital because of a 2cm sized blackish nodule with nail destruction on her left thumb.
Amputation of the left thumb at the distral end of metacarpal bone and left axillar lymphnode dissection was performed under a clinical diagnosis of ungual malignant melanoma. On histological examination, the tumor was composed of pigmented anaplastic melanocytes, which invaded the bone underneath. Immunohistochemically, the cells were positive for S-100 protein and HMB-45. No metastatic lesion was detected on her left axilla. She received 4 courses of combination chemotherapy, DAY (DTIC, ACNU, VCR) along with local IFN-β injection. Six months later, she noticed a swelling on her left axilla and we re-performed lymphnode dissecton followed by a combination chemotherapy CDV (CDDP, DTIC, VDS).
She is now in good condition without evidence for metastasis for the last 13 months.