Workshop

What we see:

• A marked number of neoplastic cells are present, arranged in clusters as well as individually. 
• These cells have rounded to polygonal borders, a variable amount of basophilic cytoplasm, and round nuclei.
• The cytoplasm of the cells sometimes contains pinpoint blue-green granules. 
• There is moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, prominent nucleoli, and occasional binucleation.
• The lymphoid population is absent.  

• Interpretation: Metastatic melanoma
  
  

Let's talk about this case...

• The lymphoid population is absent because the lymph node is being taken over (i.e. effaced) by neoplastic cells. The neoplastic cells are identifiable as melanocytes, since a number of them contain classic blue-green cytoplasmic granulation.
• The oral mass was not aspirated; however, the assumption is that this mass is an oral malignant melanoma that has metastasized to the mandibular lymph node.