Gastrointestinal Metastases from Malignant Melanoma: Report of a Case

Abstract

Malignant melanoma metastases in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are found in more than 60% of autopsies on patients who have died with disseminated melanoma; however, the rate of GIT metastases detected clinically averages only 2%. This discrepancy seems to be attributed to the nonspecific symptoms and signs of GIT involvement, which include weakness, fatigue, bleeding, anemia, and abdominal pain. Sometimes a diagnosis is only made when bowel obstruction occurs. We report a case of long-term survival after surgery for multiple melanoma metastases in the gastrointestinal tract and review the relevant literature. Both our case report and the literature review demonstrate the benefits of surgery for patients with melanoma metastases in the GIT. We also stress the need for meticulous follow-up, detailed history-taking, and rapid evaluation of any vague and unclear abdominal signs and symptoms for patients with melanoma.

Metastatic lesions in the gastroduodenum — an unusual manifestation of malignant melanoma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma

“…Malignant melanoma metastases in the GIT are found in more than 60% of autopsies on patients who have died with disseminated melanoma; however, the rate of GIT metastases detected clinically averages only 2% [11]. This discrepancy seems to be attributed to the nonspecific symptoms and signs of GIT involvement, which include general weakness, tiredness, weight loss, unspecific abdominal pain, fatigue, and anemia [9,[11][12][13].…”

“…This discrepancy seems to be attributed to the nonspecific symptoms and signs of GIT involvement, which include general weakness, tiredness, weight loss, unspecific abdominal pain, fatigue, and anemia [9,[11][12][13].…”

“…The average time from the diagnosis of the primary tumor to the detection of GIT metastases is 43.8 ± 11.3 months (range 21.6-54) [11]. It varies from 2 months up to 12 years.…”

Melanoma Metastases to the Small Intestine Mesentery, Greater Omentum and Parietal Peritoneum - Case Report

“…Intraperi-toneal metastases are most commonly located in the liver, less commonly in the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum and esophagus. Gastrointestinal metastases are detected during an autopsy in almost 60% of patients, while they are symptomatic only in approximately 2% of patients, inducing abdominal pain, nausea (13). They can cause gastrointestinal obstruction and require emergency surgical treatment in extreme cases.…”

Metastatic melanoma of the stomach and the duodenum

“…The average rate of GIT metastases detected clinically in malignant melanoma patients antemortem is only 2.3%, but varies from 0.8% to 8.9% in different series (3,4). The overall incidence of GIT metastases detected post mortem in autopsies of patients who died from disseminated malignant melanoma is in excess of 60% of the cases (3,5). The most common Figure 3.…”