title: The clinical features and optimal treatment of anorectal malignant melanoma.
abstract: Anorectal malignant melanoma (AMM) is a very rare and aggressive disease. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical features of AMM, to understand treatment options, and optimal therapy by reviewing pertinent literature. Traditionally an abdominoperineal resection (APR) sacrificing the anal sphincter has been performed for radical resection of cancer, but recently, wide excision of AMM is attempted since quality of life after surgery is an important issue. Some authors reported that there was no difference in five-year survival between the patient who underwent an APR and wide excision. The goal of both APR and wide excision was to improve survival with R0 resection. Adjuvant chemoradiation therapy can be performed to achieve an R0 resection. AMM shows very poor prognosis. At this time, research on AMM is insufficient to suggest a treatment guideline. Thus, treatment options, and a therapeutic method should be selected carefully.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soomin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Soh
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Kyu
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Anal neoplasms; Melanoma; Skin neoplasms; Surgery; Wide local excision