{"id":10128,"date":"2023-06-23T07:30:49","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T06:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/melanoma\/rare-variants-of-melanoma\/rhabdoid-melanoma\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T10:07:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:07:18","slug":"rhabdoid-melanoma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/rare-variants-of-melanoma\/rhabdoid-melanoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhabdoid melanoma"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-diagnosis-guide\">\n<nav class=\"im26-dg-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#rf-termine\">Rhabdoid does not mean muscle origin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#rf-istologia\">Microscopic features<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#rf-marcatori\">Interpreting markers in context<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#rf-cure\">Treatment and prognosis without overgeneralisation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"rf-termine\">\n<h2>Rhabdoid does not mean muscle origin<\/h2>\n<p>Rhabdoid melanoma contains cells resembling those in other rhabdoid neoplasms: abundant cytoplasm, eosinophilic inclusions and a nucleus often displaced towards the edge. The term is morphological. It does not prove muscle origin and is not equivalent to rhabdomyosarcoma.<\/p>\n<p>This appearance is described particularly in recurrent or metastatic settings, although primary tumours have been reported. It can coexist with other melanoma components in the same sample. Biopsy location and cancer history are therefore essential.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"rf-istologia\">\n<h2>Microscopic features<\/h2>\n<p>Cells may be polygonal and arranged in sheets, with vesicular nuclei and conspicuous cytoplasmic inclusions. Melanin may be sparse or absent, making melanocytic origin less obvious. Lack of pigment cannot exclude melanoma.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/istopatologia-del-melanoma\/\">Histological examination<\/a> also considers areas without rhabdoid features. A limited sample may show only the most unusual component, complicating distinction from carcinomas, sarcomas or other poorly differentiated neoplasms. A microscopic photograph illustrates morphology but cannot replace assessment of the complete specimen.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im26-dg-gallery\">\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/melanoma-rabdoide.jpg\" aria-label=\"Open original image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/melanoma-rabdoide.jpg\" width=\"376\" height=\"282\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rhabdoid melanoma: archive image\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Clinical or histological image retained from the site archive. It cannot be used for self-diagnosis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"rf-marcatori\">\n<h2>Interpreting markers in context<\/h2>\n<p>Expression of S100 and vimentin has been described, sometimes with unexpected markers such as keratins or desmin. These findings are not an invariant signature. Vimentin is nonspecific, and a marker usually associated with another lineage cannot resolve the diagnosis alone.<\/p>\n<p>The panel may include SOX10 and other melanocytic markers alongside those needed to exclude alternatives. Dedifferentiated melanomas can lose some markers. Comparison with a previous melanoma, expert review and selected molecular investigations help integrate the findings.<\/p>\n<p>The report should explain diagnostic certainty and distinguish the rhabdoid component from disease stage. These are different pieces of information.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"rf-cure\">\n<h2>Treatment and prognosis without overgeneralisation<\/h2>\n<p>Many published cases concern aggressive or already advanced disease. This does not prove that rhabdoid appearance always causes poor response to every treatment independently of stage. Rarity limits reliable comparisons and individual predictions.<\/p>\n<p>Treatment follows the melanoma diagnosis, site and extent. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/guides\/treatment\/\">Surgery<\/a>, immunotherapy, appropriate targeted treatments and radiotherapy have different roles according to the case. Chemotherapy may be considered in selected settings, not automatically because of morphology.<\/p>\n<p>An expert centre can discuss possible clinical trials and plan surveillance and support. Useful questions concern lesion origin, spread, molecular results and the concrete goal of treatment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"im26-dg-related\">\n<h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/rare-variants-of-melanoma\/\">Rare variants of melanoma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/rare-variants-of-melanoma\/signet-ring-melanoma\/\">Signet ring cell melanoma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/rare-variants-of-melanoma\/osteogenic-melanoma\/\">Osteogenic melanoma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/guides\/diagnosis\/\">The diagnostic pathway<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/guides\/treatment\/\">Understanding treatment<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-sources\">\n<h2>Sources and update<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/skin\/hp\/melanoma-treatment-pdq\">NCI \u2014 Melanoma Treatment (PDQ)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pathol.2022.11.006\">Lowe \u2014 Metastatic melanoma and rare melanoma variants (2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editorial revision: 17 October 2026. This information does not replace medical assessment. For very rare variants, some evidence comes from small series or case reports.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An unusual cellular appearance, sometimes seen in metastases: how it is identified and why it cannot determine prognosis alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":10126,"parent":10105,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10128","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rhabdoid melanoma - Il Melanoma<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rhabdoid melanoma is a rare form of metastatic melanoma; cases of primary melanoma have rarely been described.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/rare-variants-of-melanoma\/rhabdoid-melanoma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rhabdoid melanoma - Il Melanoma\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rhabdoid melanoma is a rare form of metastatic melanoma; 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