title: [Clinical analysis of anorectal malignant melanoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the clinicopathological characteristics of primary anorectal malignant melanoma (AMM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of nine patients with AMM were reviewed retrospectively from January 1999 to March 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anorectal malignant melanoma had a female predominance. The average age was 56 years old and average course of disease was 5.8 months. The onset of symptom was hematochezia, then anus prolapses. 94.7% of patients had AMM within 5 cm from anus margin; the average tumor size was (3.3+/- 2.1) cm. The polyp and ulcer were most common types. More than a half (54.5%) of the tumor was movable, 19.1% smooth surfaced, 6.6% soft textured. Synchronous metastasis was found in 14.0% of the patients, the first common metastasis was found in liver, the secondary was superficial inguinal lymph node metastasis. Half of the patients were misdiagnosed,and over 50% of patients were misdiagnosed as benign disease. Mile's operation was performed in most of patients (63%), while anal resection was performed in 30% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anorectal malignant melanoma is often misdiagnosed,surgical procedure is the first choice for patients with AMM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Coloproctological Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. zs0771@sohu.com
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Li-sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zong-jiang
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jun-lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies