Multiple ground-glass opacity in metastasis of malignant melanoma diagnosed by lung biopsy

Abstract

Focal ground-glass opacity (GGO) on computed tomography has been reported in several disorders including inflammatory disease and primary neoplastic lesion of the lung. We report a case of malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity metastatic to the lungs in which multiple pulmonary nodules showed GGO. Lung biopsy specimen demonstrated melanoma cells proliferating in a lepidic fashion along the thickened alveolar wall simulating bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Metastatic lung tumor showing GGO is uncommon.