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1https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/abstract/10.2340/00015555-3134 Balloon cell malignant melanoma (BCMM) is a rare variant of melanoma, first reported by Gardner & Vasquez in 1970 (1). BCMM is histologically characterized by large and polyhedral foamy… Click to show full abstract
1https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/abstract/10.2340/00015555-3134 Balloon cell malignant melanoma (BCMM) is a rare variant of melanoma, first reported by Gardner & Vasquez in 1970 (1). BCMM is histologically characterized by large and polyhedral foamy cells with abundant cytoplasmic vacuoles (2). In general, brain metastasis is common and is a poor prognostic factor in patients with melanoma, even in the era when immune checkpoints and BRAF/ MEK inhibitors are used as therapeutic modalities (3). Recent studies have shown that combined stereotactic irradiation (STI) with immune checkpoints or with BRAF/MEK inhibitors can significantly improve overall survival for patients with melanoma brain metastases (4, 5). We report here a rare case of BCMM in which BRAF/ MEK inhibitors and subsequent anti-PD-1 antibody (nivolumab) were ineffective, but the brain metastatic lesions were completely resolved by STI in combination with nivolumab. CASE REPORT
Journal Title: Acta dermato-venereologica
Year Published: 2019
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