title: Endoscopic mucosal resection of primary anorectal malignant melanoma: a case report.
abstract: Anorectal melanoma is a rare malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. However, several studies have reported cases of long-term survival. In this report, we present a patient with anorectal melanoma who has survived for 9 years after endoscopic mucosal resection. An 85-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment of an anal tumor 2 cm in size. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed that the depth of tumor invasion was confined to the submucosal layer. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed, and the tumor was diagnosed as a malignant melanoma. The patient was followed without any additional treatment, which was per his wishes. Although melanoma recurred 4 times thereafter, endoscopic mucosal resection was performed for each recurrent lesion. Thus, he has been alive for 9 years since the first endoscopic mucosal resection without distant metastases. If the depth of tumor invasion is shallow, endoscopic mucosal resection is a useful option among other therapeutic modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Iwakuni Clinical Center, National Hospital Organization, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi 740-0041, Japan. tanaka@iwakuni-nh.go.jp
authors.forename: Shouichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takeyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation