The American Journal of Dermatopathology

Our medical research library holds 7 studies published in The American Journal of Dermatopathology (2011–2025). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 7 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Published: 1979 to the present, United States
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0193-1091 (print), 1533-0311 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2020s

• Metastatic Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis Presenting as Scrotal and Abdominal Nodules: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. A. Gilbert, R. Wieland, N. Zacher, et al. 2025;47(1):e6-e11. Case report · Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis (MMTVT) is a rare neoplasm comprising <3% of all cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM). MMTVT derives from the tunica vaginalis testis, an outpouching of the mesothelial-lined abdominal peritoneum that detaches from the abdominal cavity after the descent of the testis. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is a known risk factor. However, MMTVT has a better prognosis than pleural mesothelioma. Cutaneous metastases from MMTVT are exceedingly rare. Herein, we describe a case of a 67-year-old man with a history of asbestos exposure presenting with scrotal pain and indurated plaques on his lower abdomen and scrotum. Histologic sections showed a sheet-like dermal proliferation comprising epithelioid cells with necrosis and increased mitotic activity. The clinical and histologic differential diagnosis was broad, including metastatic carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma, germ cell tumor, hematologic malignancy, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and malignant mesothelioma. By immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells were positive for WT1, D2-40, and AE1/AE3, with rare positivity for calretinin, consistent with a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Additional immunohistochemical studies provided no support for the other diagnostic considerations listed above. BAP1 showed retained nuclear expression (normal) by immunohistochemistry. A DNA sequencing panel identified copy number losses in CDKN2A, MTAP, CDKN2B, and NF2, which are frequently identified genetic alterations in malignant mesothelioma. Subsequent testicular imaging demonstrated a diffusely thickened scrotal wall with an enlarged left testicle. Overall, this represents a case of malignant mesothelioma presenting with cutaneous metastases to the scrotum and lower abdomen, with clinical and imaging features suggestive of primary MMTVT. The International Mesothelioma Interest Group recommends using at least 2 mesothelial markers, such as calretinin, WT1, CK5/6 or D2-40, and 2 epithelial markers, such as claudin-4, CEA, MOC-31, as well as a broad-spectrum cytokeratin stain (AE1/AE3) as part of an initial immunohistochemical panel. Metastatic mesothelioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of malignant epithelioid dermal tumors with unusual staining patterns.

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• Histologically Diverse BAP1-Deficient Melanocytic Tumors in a Patient With BAP1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome. A. Louw, J. Creaney, A. Thomas, et al. 2020;42(11):872-875. Case report PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1)-deficient cutaneous tumors are common in patients with BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome, frequently presenting before other associated neoplasms, and can serve as an early marker to identify individuals with this disease. The typical lesions are dermal based and composed of a combination of larger epithelioid melanocytes with abundant glassy cytoplasm and smaller cells resembling those of a conventional nevus. There is often a component of interspersed lymphocytes. However, BAP1-deficient melanocytic tumors can show a spectrum of histologic appearances, ranging from lesions with pure epithelioid, pure conventional nevus, or rhabdoid cells and tumors with an intraepidermal component. To demonstrate such morphologic variation, we present a case of a 50-year-old woman with multiple histologically diverse BAP1-deficient melanocytic tumors and germline BAP1 mutation, identified after a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. We also discuss the pathogenesis and potential histopathological and clinical indications of germline versus sporadic etiology in the assessment of BAP1-deficient melanocytic tumors.

2010s

• Cutaneous Presentation of Mesothelioma With a Sarcomatoid Transformation. N. Klebanov, B.Y. Reddy, S. Husain, et al. 2018;40(5):378-382. Case report PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm of mesodermal origin. Cutaneous involvement of malignant pleural mesothelioma is a very rare entity, with only 11 cases reported in the literature. Here, we describe the case of a 75-year-old man with stage IV epithelioid pleural mesothelioma, presenting with a cutaneous eruption 5 months after initial diagnosis, which revealed sarcomatoid features on skin biopsy. Histological analysis of malignancy progression through immunohistochemical staining of the pleural, lymph node, and skin tissue revealed gradual loss of calretinin and gain of desmin, supporting a transformation from epithelioid to sarcomatoid tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an epithelioid to sarcomatoid transformation of malignant pleural mesothelioma manifesting in a cutaneous presentation.

• Metastatic Melanoma With Papillary Features: A Mimic and Possible Diagnostic Pitfall. A. Valero-Torres, V.G. Prieto, P. Nagarajan, et al. 2017;39(6):468-470. Case report PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Papillary and pseudopapillary features are histopathologic findings typically associated with carcinomas (thyroid, pancreas, breast, prostate, bladder, kidney, or ovary) or mesothelioma. Melanoma is typically composed of nested and variably pigmented atypical cells. Here, we report a case of in-transit metastasis of melanoma presenting with prominent papillary features, and we discuss the differential diagnoses of neoplasms with papillary features. This case report suggests that the spectrum of neoplasms with papillary features should be expanded to include melanoma, a pattern that, to the best of our knowledge, is uncommon.

• Cutaneous Metastases From Malignant Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis Testis. P. Hispán, J.C. Pascual, I. González, et al. 2016;38(3):222-5. Case report PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Mesotheliomas are uncommon tumors arising from mesothelial cells lining the serous membranes of the pleura, pericardium, peritoneum, and tunica vaginalis testis. Less than 100 cases arising from the tunica vaginalis testis have been published and, to our knowledge, only 5 cases of cutaneous involvement from these tumors have been reported. We report an additional case with fatal outcome. A 93-year-old man presented with multiple polypoid nodules on the left scrotum. Ulceration was also present, and a firm 5-cm palpable testicular mass was also found. The patient had been exposed to asbestos for 40 years. Histologic examination of a skin biopsy from one of the nodules showed diffuse dermal infiltration of markedly atypical cuboidal cells, with polymorphous and hyperchromatic nuclei. Mitotic figures were common. These cuboidal cells lined clefts, forming a tubular and micropapillary pattern throughout papillary and reticular dermis. Immunohistochemical study showed strong nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity for calretinin, epithelial membrane antigen (cytoplasmic), and cytokeratin-7 (cytoplasmic) and nuclear positivity for Wilms tumor-1. These findings were consistent with cutaneous infiltration from malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. Treatment of this rare tumor remains challenging because there are currently no recommended guidelines, but radical inguinal orchiectomy is an optimal choice.

• Multilocular mesothelial proliferation involving the skin of the umbilicus. A.M. Konstantinova, M. Michal, D. Kacerovska, et al. 2013;35(8):856-8. Case report PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Multilocular mesothelial proliferation (MMP) is a rare lesion that mainly arises from the peritoneal mesothelium. Most often, it occurs in women of reproductive age, with a history of abdominal surgery, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. We describe an unusual case of a 73-year-old woman affected by a large MMP, which involved the skin and presented clinically as a cutaneous mass. To the best of our knowledge, MMP involving the umbilicus has never been reported in a peer-reviewed literature.

• Hypodermal decidualized endometrioma with aberrant cytokeratin expression. A lesion mimicking malignancy. J.F. Val-Bernal, D. Val, F. Gómez-Aguado, et al. 2011;33(5):e58-62. Case report PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Decidualized endometrioma is a pseudoneoplastic lesion that may appear as a solitary nodule in the hypodermis, simulate a malignant epithelioid tumor, and can represent a diagnostic challenge. A 36-year-old woman delivered a full-term baby by cesarean. At the immediate puerperium, she complained of a subcutaneous nodule measuring 2.5 cm, underneath a previous caesarean scar from the former full-term delivery 3 years earlier. Histologic features included a nodular growth pattern of large monomorphic epithelioid cells showing diffuse positivity for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3, 18), human placental lactogen, and CD10 and focal positivity for inhibin alpha. The main differential diagnoses include trophoblastic neoplasia and deciduoid mesothelioma. Good clinicopathological correlation is essential for the correct diagnosis. Immunohistochemical stains can be misleading. An important clue is the combination of large decidualized cells and lumens lined by flat or low cuboidal cells that are atrophic endometrial glands. This lesion has a benign behavior.

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