Melanoma anorectal

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

anal melanoma; Anal Melanoma; Anal mucosal melanoma; Anorectal melanoma; ARMM; Melanoma of the anus; melanoma of the rectum; Rectal melanoma

Definition
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Malignant melanoma of the anal or rectal mucosa, which in many cases is diagnosed at an advanced stage due to late clinical symptoms.

Occurrence/Epidemiology
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Reliable epidemiological data are not available. In large skin cancer centres such cases are observed 1-2 times per year. Men seem to be preferentially affected (1m:1.5w).

Manifestation
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Middle adulthood (36-81 years, average 55 years)

Clinical features
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The anorectal malignant melanoma is clinically impressive due to bleeding from the anus, undefined intestinal symptoms or pain during defecation. In a larger study (n=56 pat.) all melanomas were located <5cm, 47<3cm from the anal rim and thus digitally easy to palpate. Mostly painless or slightly painful, soft or firm, broad-based, mostly black or brown-blue, solitary (rarely multiple) tumors (about 10% of anorectal melanomas are amelanotic and therefore red in color).

Therapy
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The goal is a complete R0 resection with organ preserving surgical techniques. A difference in survival rate between abdomino-peritoneal resection (APR) and large-area organ preserving local excision (WLE) could not be detected.

Internal therapy
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Progression/forecast
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  • The rate of local recurrence in larger collectives is around 30%, the 5-year survival rate is around 20%.
  • The median survival time is 21 months.
  • The prognostic factor is, as in the case of malignant melanoma of the skin, the tumour thickness ( Breslow index).

Literature
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  1. Che X et al (2011) Anorectal malignant melanomas: retrospective experience with surgical management. World J Gastroenterol 17:534-539

Incoming links (1)

Mucous membrane melanoma;

Outgoing links (1)

Melanoma cutaneous;

Disclaimer

Please ask your physician for a reliable diagnosis. This website is only meant as a reference.

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020