title: Anorectal melanoma metastatic to the breast.
abstract: Anorectal melanoma is an extremely rare malignancy with poor prognosis. Patients generally present with a sensation of mass and rectal bleeding, which is usually attributed to hemorrhoids or polyps. It can not be diagnosed early because of these benign symptoms, so it is bulky at the time of presentation. Despite aggressive surgery, 5-year survival is less than 10%. We present a case of inoperable anorectal melanoma which metastasized to the left breast and abdominal lymph nodes. We also briefly reviewed the appropriate literature, emphasizing the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Turkey. ozguroglu@superonline.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozgüroglu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozaras
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tahan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demirkesen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dogusoy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Büyükünal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serdengecti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berkarda
mesh_terms: D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*