Primary Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma with Papillary Features: A Case Report Signifying Morphologic Diversity in Malignant Melanoma

Aim: The purpose of this work was to describe the way how primary cutaneous malignant melanoma can present with papillary features and hence mimicking malignant tumours which are commonly accompanied with papillary features such as papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Presentation of Case: The case reported in this article was of an African female aged 61 years who presented with a darkish small swelling on the dorsum of the right hand, slightly painful and tender for 3 months since its onset.

Discussion: Malignant melanoma as it is encountered in daily clinical practice ought to be deemed as being a malignant tumour that can sometimes show diverse histomorphological presentation including papillary features as it was in the case herein reported. This kind of presentation can lead to wrong diagnosis, thus, contributing to delaying of proper diagnosis and even jeopardizing the prognosis of the patient.

Conclusion: Malignant melanoma should be included in the differentials of malignant tumours presenting histologically with papillary features.