Abstract
Melanocytes located between the anal transition zone and the dentate line of the anal canal can give rise to the uncommon malignant tumor known as anal melanoma. It has a fast-paced clinical course and can masquerade as several common anorectal symptoms, such as hemorrhoids or rectal ulcers. In melanoma, divergent differentiation is a very uncommon phenomenon. The diagnosis of melanoma is difficult with histopathology sections alone (hematoxylin and eosin, H&E). Special stains and ancillary immunohistochemistry investigations are useful in these situations. A 60-year-old female patient presented to the surgical outpatient department with complaints of anorectal bleeding. After clinical evaluation, a growth in the anorectal region was identified, and a biopsy was taken from the growth. Histopathological and subsequent immunohistochemical analysis of the biopsy material was done at the Department of Pathology. A diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma with atypical and divergent neuroendocrine differentiation involving the anorectal region was rendered. Histologically, this tumor showed extremely pleomorphic polygonal to elongated spindle cells that co-expressed neuroendocrine markers and were positive for S100, HMB-45, and Melan-A. This case presented many diagnostic challenges at both the histomorphological level and the immunohistochemical expression profile analysis. We will go into great depth regarding the diagnostic challenges in this instance and provide an outline of our approach. The immunohistochemical and prognostic importance of this case will also be covered.