title: Primary amelanotic melanoma of the vagina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is extremely rare, accounting for 0.3-0.8% of all malignant melanomas. True amelanotic vaginal melanoma showing no melanin on histological examination is exceedingly rare, accounting for only 2% of all vaginal melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a 31-year-old female patient who presented with locally advanced amelanotic melanoma of the vagina, with no evidence of metastatic spread on the computerized tomography (CT) scan, but who was subsequently diagnosed as suffering from metastatic disease by positron emission tomography (PET)-CT performed a few weeks following posterior pelvic exenteration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific immunohistochemical staining with melanoma markers should be performed to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma in all patients presenting with a vaginal mass composed of undifferentiated epithelioid malignant cells. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET-CT should be performed as part of the preoperative evaluation, to identify the presence or absence of metastatic disease in all patients with vaginal melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Sha'are Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. talgrenader65@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grenader
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isacson
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reinus
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rosengarten
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barenholz
authors.forename: Jordana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabizon
authors.forename: Uzi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Beller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*