Primary Anorectal Melanoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Primary anorectal melanoma is an extremely rare and aggressive mucosal melanocytic malignancy of the anorectal region. Because of the rarity of the tumor and vague clinical presentations, diagnosis at an early stage is a challenge for clinicians. In our context, where the hemorrhoid is a diagnosis of cultural familiarity for any sort of rectal pathology, these patients often present to us at a very advanced stage of the disease. Here, we present a case of a 55-year-old male patient with stage 2 anorectal melanoma who is on adjuvant chemotherapy following abdominoperineal resection with a permanent colostomy. Five cycles of dacarbazine and carboplatin have been given and the patient is doing well with the treatment. Abdominoperineal resection with excision of the tumor remains the mainstay of treatment; however, poor patient compliance with permanent colostomy is a major limiting factor of abdominoperineal resection. Even with the best interventions and care, the survival rate is not very good.

Keywords

• abdominoperineal resection; adjuvant chemotherapy; case reports; melanoma.