Amelanotic malignant melanoma disguised as a diabetic foot ulcer

Diabet Med. 2004 Aug;21(8):924-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2004.01338.x.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/CASE REPORT A female patient with diet-controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus, presented with disseminated malignancy. She had a 15-year history of a diabetic foot ulcer, which was subsequently found to be an amelanotic malignant melanoma. She had recently received immunosuppressive treatment for an episode of nephrotic syndrome secondary to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Conclusions: This case raises two important points. Firstly, whether non-healing diabetic foot ulcers should be biopsied, and secondly, whether the spread of the malignant melanoma was precipitated by immunosuppressive treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Diabetic Foot / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Melanoma, Amelanotic / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*