Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Abstract. Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is a rare malignancy and the prognosis is typically poor. There is currently a lack of appropriate treatment strategies and clear guidance. The current study presents the case of a 65-year-old female with a two-month history of progressive dysphagia, the investigations of which resulted in a diagnosis of PMME. The patient was treated with a radical transhiatal esophagectomy with subcarinal lymphadenectomy followed by combined chemoimmunotherapy. The patient remains alive with no evidence of tumor progression at the 12-month follow-up. The purpose of the present study was to report a new case and to review the recent relevant literature regarding the treatment of PMME.

Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes for Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus

“…The diagnosis of PMME for our patients was made depending upon post-operative pathological examination with immunohistochemical checkup. The majority of the specimens had positive expression of the classic immunomarkers, like MB-45, Melan-A, S100, and vimetin, which is consistent with other reports 6 10 15 16 . However, accurate diagnosis before surgery is difficult even with endoscopic biopsy.…”

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of esophageal metastatic melanoma

“…EMR can be considered to remove small esophageal melanomas; this may carry a high risk for incomplete resection and positive margins. On the other hand, surgery can result in high morbidity and mortality 16, 17, 18, 19…”

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection: A case report

“…The most common complaint include dysphagia and retrosternal pain. HMB-45, AE1/AE3 and S-100 cytoplasmic proteins are the monoclonal antibodies most frequently used to identify PMME ( 2 , 3 ).…”

“…Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) has only ~300 cases reported in the literature ( 1 , 2 ). It is a rare malignant disease, accounting for 0.1–0.2% of esophageal malignancies.…”