Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Small Intestine: a Case Report

Abstract

The small intestine is the most common site of gastro-intestinal metastasis from cutaneous malignant melanoma. A primary origin at this site has been reported in rare cases. We report a case of a 71-year-old man with a primary malignant melanoma in the jejunum. The patient presented with weakness, weight loss, non-specific abdominal pain and episodes of fainting. After clinical examination, laboratory evaluation and radiological work-up, which included CT of the abdomen, the patient was diagnosed with a tumour mass in the jejunum. This diagnosis was confirmed at laparotomy. The patient underwent enterectomy with wide excision of the tumour. A primary malignant melanoma of the small intestine is an extremely rare neoplasm.

A definite diagnosis can only be made after a thorough investigation has been made to exclude the co-existence of a primary lesion elsewhere. Curative resection of the tumour remains the treatment of choice.

Key Words:

• Malignant melanoma
• small intestine
• gastro-intestinal metastasis.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

G. Noussios

G. Noussios, M.D., Ph.D. Vassileos Georgiou 34 54640-Thessaloniki, Greece E-mail: [email protected]