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melanotic peritoneal cyst
Saturday 10 March 2018
Definition: A melanotic peritoneal cyst. This multilocular cyst is lined by heavily pigmented mesothelial cells. Scattered dendritic melanocytes are also seen underlying the mesothelium.
By light and electron microscopy, the lesion appears to imitate the pigmentation process of the skin.
Special stains, to confirm the character of both mesothelial and dendritic cells (melanocytes), were also performed.
The above findings constitute the first complete documentation of the relationship of melanocytes with mesothelial cells in humans.
Thus, the possibility of primary melanosis peritonei, independent of melanogenic tumors of the ovary, is shown.
References
Melanotic peritoneal cyst. Light-microscopic and ultrastructural studies. Drachenberg CB, Papadimitriou JC. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1990 May;114(5):463-7. PMID: 2334252
