Erythrophagocytic tumour cells in melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Aims: Erythrophagocytosis is a characteristic feature of tumour cells in malignant histiocytosis, some leukaemias, lymphomas, and also reactive histiocytes in the haemophagocytic syndrome associated with a variety of infections and neoplasms. It has also been found exceptionally in metastatic malignant epithelial cells in bone marrow and lymph nodes. We present two cases, a cutaneous malignant melanoma and an acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma, in which erythrophagocytosis by tumour cells was demonstrable by both light and electron microscopy. Methods and results: The melanocytic and squamous nature of these cells was supported by the immunohistochemical detection of HMB45, S100, and NKI-…