title: Primary rectal malignant melanoma-case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary malignant melanoma that arises from the true anatomic rectal mucosa is extremely rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  An endoscopic investigation of a 79-year-old woman with long history of tenesmus and rectal bleeding revealed posterior fleshy mass 4.5 cm from the anal verge. Biopsies demonstrated malignant melanoma. She underwent abdominoperineal resection and is doing well one year after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Owing to its rarity and histologic variability, misdiagnosis as lymphoma, carcinoma or sarcoma is common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gavriilidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moula
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Theageneio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikolaidou
keywords: Rectal melanoma; anorectal malignancies; malignant melanoma