Primary retroperitoneal malignant melanoma

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is a tumour arising from the melancytes which are derived from the neural crest, it migrate during the embryological development and may be found in the non cutoneons site. With a predisposition to the possibility of developing melanoma in adult life [1]. In clinical practice and medical literature, malignant melanoma usually appears in typical sites where melanocytes can be found (skin, eyes, meninges and anal region) [2].Malignant melanoma of the skin is easily diagnosed, but some, particulary those presenting as non cutaneous primaries or as metastatic disease may closely mimic other tumours [3]. Malignant melanoma of unknown origin accounts for 5-10% of melanoma cases [4]. Primary retroperitoneal tumors are rare and most of the time malignant, because of the large space where they grow, they are often discovered lately as they are large [5]. Malignant melanoma representing in the retroperitoneum are usually metastatic in patients with a history of melanoma [5,6]. Primary retroperitoneal malignant melanoma is extremelly rare and only a few descriptions of this presentation have been found in the medical literature only 6 cases. The present report describes a new case of primary retroperitoneal malignant melanoma, indurcing a diagnostic and management problem.

Keywords

• melanoma
• malignant
• primary retroperitoneal