title: Survival after resection of a primary malignant melanoma of the small intestine in a young patient: report of a case.
abstract: The occurrence of primary melanoma of the small intestine is rare. We describe the case of a 25-year-old man found to have a primary melanoma of the ileum. The patient presented with gradual onset of abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. A preoperative diagnosis of a small intestinal tumor was based on the findings of computed tomography scanning. This diagnosis was confirmed at laparoto-my and a partial small bowel resection was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen clarified the exact nature of the lesion, confirming the diagnosis of melanoma. Thorough postoperative investigation did not reveal a primary lesion in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, oculus or brain. Thus, we diagnosed this tumor as a primary lesion. One year after his operation, the patient remains well without any evidence of recurrence. Thus, we diagnosed this small bowel tumor as a primary melanoma of the small intestine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Timmers
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Schadd
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Monkelbaan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meij
keywords: Intestinal melanoma; Malignant melanoma; Melanoma of the intestines