title: Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The purpose of this report is to describe a new case of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) and to review the recent literature. A 75-year-old man underwent an esophagoscopy for a 3-month history of dysphagia and weight loss. A pigmented polypoïd mass in the lower third of esophagus was discovered, identified by biopsy as a malignant melanoma. No pigmented lesions of the skin or eyes were observed and a diagnosis of PMME was made. A total transhiatal esophagectomy was carried out and 12 months after the operation the patient is disease-free. PMME is a rare neoplasm, with only 238 cases having been reported in the literature. Although characterized by an aggressive biological behavior, esophagectomy can result in a 5-year survival rate of up to 37% of cases, whereas chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy currently have no major role in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery, Beaujon Hospital, University Paris VII, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volpin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauvanet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Couvelard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belghiti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome