Malignant melanoma of the anal canal: A rare case report from a tertiary care center in South India

Abstract

Anorectal melanoma is a rare entity that accounts for less than 1% of all anorectal malignancies. It is often mistaken for benign anorectal conditions since the symptoms resemble each other. The predominant symptoms of anorectal melanoma are per rectal bleeding, anorectal pain, mass per rectum, tenesmus and altered bowel habits. All suspected cases of anorectal malignancy should be subjected to sigmoido-colonoscopy and biopsy. Management of anorectal melanoma remains controversial including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and target therapy as treatment options. Surgical treatment is considered as the primary treatment modality for anorectal melanoma. Anorectal melanoma must be kept in mind as differential diagnosis for patients presenting with per rectal bleeding and pain.

Keywords

• abdominal perineal resection
• anorectum
• carcinoma
• melanoma