Melanoma Extravascular Migratory Metastasis: An Important Underrecognized Phenomenon.

Extravascular migratory metastasis (EVMM) is the spread of metastases on the external surfaces of microvascular channels, a phenomenon noted by Recamier in 1829, and by Borst (cited by Handley in 1907)(1) . We present a case of an 83-year old male with a pathology-confirmed invasive melanoma on the anterior aspect of his shoulder, Breslow thickness 1.4 mm, dermal mitotic rate of 6/mm. There was EVMM but no intravascular invasion [FIG 1], confirmed with a combined CD34/SOX10 immunohistochemical stain. [FIG 2].