title: Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina with repeated local recurrences and brain metastasis.
abstract: Malignant melanoma of the vagina, a very rare malignancy, has a notoriously aggressive behavior associated with a high risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis. At present, there are various treatment options for this disease but no standard guideline. We describe a case of a 54-year-old woman with a locally advanced melanoma of the vagina, who underwent radical surgery, biochemotherapy with interferon-α-2b, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and repeat excision of local recurrent lesions and brain metastasis. In conclusion, malignant melanoma of the vagina has a high risk for local recurrence. Repeated local excision followed by biochemotherapy is a tolerable treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Li-Te
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chung-Bin
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: San-Nung
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: An-Jen
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Wen-Shiung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Ken-Jen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins