Survival after Resection of a Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Small Intestine in a Young Patient: Report of a Case

Abstract

The occurrence of primary melanoma of the small intestine is rare. We describe the case of a 25-year-old man found to have a primary melanoma of the ileum. The patient presented with gradual onset of abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. A preoperative diagnosis of a small intestinal tumor was based on the findings of computed tomography scanning. This diagnosis was confirmed at laparotomy and a partial small bowel resection was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen clarified the exact nature of the lesion, confirming the diagnosis of melanoma. Thorough postoperative investigation did not reveal a primary lesion in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, oculus or brain. Thus, we diagnosed this tumor as a primary lesion. One year after his operation, the patient remains well without any evidence of recurrence. Thus, we diagnosed this small bowel tumor as a primary melanoma of the small intestine.

Primary Malignant Melanoma of Jejunum with Perforation Peritonitis: A Case Report

“…Other indications of primary lesions are the presence of lymphocytic infiltration surrounding the tumour mass. [9,10] Our case satisfies all the above diagnostic criteria. Acute abdomen caused by small bowel perforation due to metastatic malignant melanoma is extremely rare condition.…”

Primary small bowel melanoma. A case report and a review of the literature

“…Other indications of primary lesions are the presence of lymphocytes infiltration surrounding tumor mass (3,16).…”

“…Primary malignant melanomas have been also reported even if their presence is still controversial (3)(4)(5). Only a limited number of cases are described in the literature (2,6).…”

Primary Bowel Malignant Melanoma with Ileo-Ileal Intussusception

“…Histological criteria for highlighting the primar y melanoma are the proliferation of atypical junctional melanocytes and atypical melanocytic cells in the basal layer of the surface epithelium. Other indications of primary lesions are the presence of peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration [3,16].…”