An Unusual Case of Malignant Melanoma with Metastasis to the Placenta During Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: We describe an unusual case of metastatic melanoma of the brain with an unknown primary site during pregnancy. Case Description: A 35-year-old woman in the third trimester of pregnancy presented with ataxia, nausea, vomiting, headaches and diplopia. CT of the brain revealed a hyper-attenuating 2.1 cm mass in the fourth ventricle with mild obstructive hydrocephalus. A healthy newborn was delivered by urgent caesarean section. Craniotomy and resection of the brain lesion confirmed melanoma. Pathology of the placenta reported a ‘focal nest of melanocytes identified in intervillous space’. Discussion: Brain and maternal placenta pathology findings were consistent with melanoma, making this case relevant because of the possibility of metastatic melanoma in a fetus. Conclusion: Epidemiological data on congenital and infantile melanoma are scarce. Also, there is no database for long-term follow-up of children born to pregnant mothers with metastatic melanoma. Delayed presentation of melanoma in the child cannot be ruled out.

Case report: Malignant melanoma of the lower limb with gastric metastasis

“…Generally, patients with metastatic MM of the stomach have atypical clinical symptoms ( 11 ), including abdominal distension, acid reflux, and other symptoms, as well as complications such as bleeding and perforation ( 12 ). They are easy to be confused with various benign and malignant diseases of the digestive tract, resulting in missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis and missing the best treatment period ( 13 ).…”