Symptomatic Malignant Melanoma of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

Malignant melanoma involving the gastrointestinal tract is a common autopsy finding in patients who die with this disease. Melanoma metastatic to bowel infrequently causes symptoms. Some investigators suggest that survival following the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms is very poor and, as a result, surgical intervention to relieve symptoms should be avoided. We reviewed the clinical courses of 15 consecutive patients with symptomatic malignant melanoma of the bowel who underwent resection alone or in combination with bypass of symptomatic intestinal lesions. There were no deaths within 30 days of operation; 14 patients obtained relief of intestinal symptoms; 11 patients survived a mean of 7.9 months; and four patients are alive 2, 7, 22, and 23 months after operation. These results suggest that operations to treat symptomatic intestinal melanoma provide reasonable palliation and survival for patients with this disease.

Synchronous Anal Melanoma and Colon Adenocarcinoma: Case Report and Review of Diagnosis and Management

“…Survival rates vary from 6-12% for five years 4 , 7 , 10 . The average survival rate in literature is 18 months 12 .…”

“…Since the most common complaints are enterorrhagia and anal bleeding, it is essential to perform a proctosigmoidoscopy and biopsy 7 , 8 , 9 . The pathologist should be reminded of the hypotheses, for there might be difficulties in differential diagnosis of anaplastic carcinoma and hemorrhoidal disease.…”

“…It is essential to obtain other anatomopathological evidence. Some authors recommend using contrast exams along with colonoscopy 3 , 7 , 12 .…”

“…Malignant anal melanoma is a rare disorder, corresponding to 0.05-1.0% of all anorectal tumors, and 0.4-1.6% of all other melanomas 7 , 8 , 9 . Its rarity can be confirmed by the fact that for every anal melanoma, there are eight squamous cell carcinomas and 250 anal adenocarcinomas 8 , 9 .…”

Colonic malignant melanoma mimicking colon carcinoma

“…Solitary large bowel melanoma is very rare. Even with a known primary disease site, melanoma metastatic to the colon is infrequent 1,2 . We describe a case of malignant melanoma involving the descending colon with symptoms mimicking carcinoma colon.…”