Primary Malignant Melanoma Of The Esophagus:Clinical Study Of3Cases And Review Of The Literature

Objective:Malignant melanoma has usually been reported as a progressive lesion On the skin. Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is extremely rare tumor and the clinical manifestation has no special compared with other esophageal tumor, painful swallowing is their common symptom. So, the correct prognosis depends on pathology, immunohistochemistry and patients’previous history of other malignant melanoma. PMME typically occurs in the middle and lower third of the esophagus, hematogenic and lymphogenic metastases can be found in the primary site. This article was designed to discuss the clinical, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease, for the purpose of advancing the cognition and improving the diagnosis and treatment of PMME.Method:we collected clinical data of3patients with PMME, all the patients who were treated in the first Affiliated Hospital, Shandong University School of Medicine from June2003to October2011. Then we reviewed the literatures, and provided follow-up care for the3discharged hospital patients. Results:Of all3patients,2were male and1female, their age from54to62years old, the average age was57years. All these3patients are PMME and complained dysphagia. PMME is usually form of a pedunculated, polypoid lesion, of all the3cases, biopsy were diagnosed as PMME. One patient was received surgical intervention and died1year later, the female received surgical treatment followed-up for2year a and was still alive, one patient received surgery intervention followed-up6months and is alive now.Conclusions:Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is extremely rare tumor and the clinical manifestation has no special compared with other esophageal tumor, painful swallowing is their common symptom. This tumor has usually been reported as a pedunculated, polypoid lesion in the middle and lower third of the esophagus. Surgical resection has been the preferred method to prolong survival time and to alleviate symptoms in patents with PMME.