title: Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus.
abstract: Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus, first recognized as a primary tumor by de la Pava et al. in 1963, is rare. It usually presents as an aggressive polypoidal darkly colored or non-pigmented tumor in the mid to lower esophagus which may be diagnosed preoperatively by the use of immunohistochemical stains such as HMB-45 (melanoma specific antigen). The treatment of choice is surgical resection however the overall prognosis is poor with only 4 per cent of patients surviving 5 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, City Hospital, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ramesar
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis