Abstract

Background Malignant melanomas of the nasal mucosa represent approximately 1% of all melanomas and reported examples often arise in areas of pigmentation of the nasal mucosa. Melanin pigmentation has been reported to occur in the nasal glands and dendritic cells but melanomas arising from areas of pigmented (melanocyte containing) nasal glands have not been reported to our knowledge. Case presentation A primary sinonasal malignant melanoma arising in association with melanosis of the nasal mucosa and seromucinous glands is reported in a seventy-six-year-old Caucasian male. Focal pigmentation of the seromucinous glands and surface epithelium of the nasal septum was present and associated with immunoreactivity for HMB-45 and melan-A and a positive Fontana-Masson reaction. A malignant melanoma was present, arising within the area of the melanosis. Conclusions The present case demonstrates that nasal melanomas may arise from areas of nasal seromucinous glands containing melanocytes and melan pigment.

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