title: [Primary melanoma of the esophagus].
abstract: A case of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is described. Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is rare, reaching only 0.1% of all esophageal tumors. The differential diagnosis is often difficult: the clinical features are similar to those of squamous cell carcinoma and, because of its potentially widespread submucosal growth, the bioptic and/or cytologic examinations are frequently negative. The surgical approach with esophagectomy is actually the treatment of choice. However, the prognosis is poor with a 5-year survival of 4.2%.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, Presidio Ospedaliero di Mortara.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucev
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Abrosca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerosa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
vernacular_title: Il melanoma primitivo dell'esofago.