Primary malignant melanoma oesophagus: A rare cause of dysphagia

Abstract

Primary malignant melanoma, though rare, is believed to be the most common non-epithelial neoplasm of the oesophagus. Compared to epithelial esophageal malignancies, melanoma is more aggressive and metastatic, resulting in poor therapeutic response and prognosis. Immunohistochemical staining is often diagnostic; conventional staining classically reveals epithelioid cells with pigment deposits. We report a case of primary esophageal melanoma in an elderly male who presented with dysphagia, treated palliatively with esophageal stenting.

Keywords

• melanoma
• esophageal melanoma
• primary melanoma
• dysphagia