title: [Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina: a report of 22 cases].
abstract: In this paper, 22 patients from 1973 through 1994 with primary malignant melanoma are retrospectively analyzed. Vaginal bleeding, discharge and a tumor mass were the chief complaints. The most common site of the tumor origin was the lower third of the anterior and postrior vaginal wall. The 5-year survival rate of 18 previously untreated patients was 11% (2/18). Of the 18 patients, 9 in stage I treated by surgery and postoperative chemothreoapy and/or radiotherapy survived for an average of 33 months. Two of the 9 patients receiving radical surgery survived for more than 5 years. None of the remaining 9 patients in stage II-IV treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy survived longer than 2 years. The survival time differed significantly in patients with and without pelvic lymph node metastasis (7 versus 41 months) and in those with and without vascular tumor thrombi (13 versus 43 months). Mitotic index of tumor cells and lymphocytic infiltration were of no prognostic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of the vagince, Cancer Institute (Hospital) Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*