title: Primary malignant melanoma of the colon in an oculocutaneous albino.
abstract: We describe the case of an elderly albino man who presented with the typical features of a caecal malignancy and underwent a right hemi-colectomy. Histological assessment subsequently revealed the tumour to be a primary malignant melanoma of the colon. This unexpected diagnosis raises interesting questions regarding the embryology and aetiology of this rare tumour and the anticipated prognosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a primary colonic melanoma associated with oculocutaneous albinism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Blackburn, UK.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: McNicol
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016115:Albinism, Oculocutaneous / Q000150:complications*; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications*