Histologic Evaluation of Possible Bone Metastasis in a Cadaveric Specimen with Advanced Metastatic Melanoma

Introduction: Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive malignancy with a high propensity for distant spread. Bone metastases occur in approximately 5–20% of patients with advanced melanoma and most commonly involving the axial skeleton. During cadaveric dissection, a specimen with known metastatic melanoma demonstrated several findings suggestive of advanced disease. Notably, a surgical incision with metal fixation was observed in the temporal bone, with the surrounding bone structure remaining intact, suggesting prior cranial surgery Additionally, gross findings within the thoracic cavity raised concern for pulmonary metastatic involvement. These observations prompted further investigation into possible skeletal metastasis in both axial and cranial bones. The objective is to evaluate the presence of melanoma metastasis within selected skeletal sites- including the ribs and temporal bone- in a cadaveric specimen with suspected advanced visceral metastatic disease, with the femur included as a comparative site to assess patterns of skeletal involvement.

Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from multiple skeletal locations, including the femur (representing appendicular long bone), the temporal bone, and the rib (representing axial skeleton). Bone specimens were processed using decalcification to allow for histologic sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Histologic evaluation will be performed to assess for the presence of metastatic melanoma cells within bone tissue.

Results: Histologic analysis of decalcified bone specimens is currently in progress to determine whether metastatic melanoma involvement is present within the sampled skeletal sites.

Discussion: This investigation aims to characterize potential skeletal metastasis in a cadaveric specimen with advanced melanoma and correlate histologic findings with observed gross anatomical evidence of prior surgical intervention and suspected visceral metastatic spread. Findings from this study may contribute to a better understanding of metastatic patterns of melanoma within axial, appendicular, cranial skeletal structures.