Primary melanoma of the esophagus with non-metastatic dark lymph nodes in a female breast cancer patient.
BACKGROUND
Primary melanoma of the esophagus is a very rare and aggressive neoplasm; only a small number of patients survive more than 1 year after initial diagnosis.


METHODS
We describe a case of primary melanoma of the esophagus in a woman with a history of invasive breast cancer. The patient suffered from dysphagic and dyspeptic disorders. The abdomen ultrasonography and the esophagogastroscopy showed a lesion located at the esophago-gastric junction extending to the gastric fundus. Histological and immunohistochemical studies revealed a primary esophageal infiltrating melanoma. A total gastrectomy and regional lymphadenectomy with a partial resection of the distal esophagus was performed.


RESULTS
During laparotomic exploration, numerous dark lymp hnodes were found. On frozen sections, surprisingly neither malignant cells nor melanin were detected in the lymph nodes. Resection margins were not involved with the tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient is still alive with no evidence of recurrence at 24 months after surgical treatment, alone.
Solari
Nicola
N
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy. nicola.solari@istge.it
Acquati
Mirko
M
Queirolo
Paola
P
Stella
Mattia
M
Di Somma
Carmine
C
Truini
Mauro
M
Cafiero
Ferdinando
F
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*