Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus

Abstract

Three cases of primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus are presented and the literature is briefly reviewed. This rare disease affects predominantly males in the sixth decade of life or later and the clinical and radiologic features are indistinguishable from those of more common oesophageal carcinomas. The tumours are often polypoid, located mainly in the lower two-thirds of the esophagus, and their histologic features resemble those of lentigo maligna melanoma, but with more aggressive biologic behavior. Because of the potential for extensive intramucosal involvement, multicentricity and high local recurrence rate, surgical treatment requires radical excision with a much greater margin than for the common squamous cell carcinomas. Though the outlook is poor, surgery is the favoured treatment with palliative or curative intent, with a 5-year survival rate of 4.2%. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunostimulation currently serve mainly as palliative or adjunctive measures.

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

“…Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is a rare malignant disease, accounting for only 0.1-0.2% of all esophageal neoplasms. The mean survival time from diagnosis is only 13.4 months, and the five-year survival rate is 4.2% worldwide (3,4).Definitive diagnoses may be confirmed by pathological analysis and positivity for S-100, human melanoma black (HMB)-45 and melanoma-specific antigen (Melan-A) proteins on immunohistochemical examination. Surgical extirpation is the standard treatment for PMME.…”

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus: misdiagnosis and review of literature

“…The medium survival time is close to 10 months (1). About 20-50 % of all cases of PMME are misdiagnosed as esophageal carcinoma due to the lack of highly specific diagnostic methods and the absence of visible melanin granules (2).…”

Two Cases of Primary Extracutaneous Melanoma: Primary Gastric Melanoma and Primary Melanoma of the Lung

“…While melanocytes are present in the oral cavity and esophagus, the stomach, small intestines, and colon are devoid of melanocytes [9]. 30% to 40% of these cases presented as detectable masses [10] or symptoms including abdominal pain, weight loss, melena, anemia, and axillary lymphadenopathy [2]. Metastasis to the liver as well as regional lymph nodes from primary gastric melanoma is common [11].…”