Primary malignant melanoma of the duodenum without visible melanin pigment: a mimicker of lymphoma or carcinoma

Duodenal malignant melanoma: Primary and metastatic case series and literature review

RATIONALE

Duodenal malignant melanoma is rare, and its early clinical symptoms are insidious, making it difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Combined with previous literature, We explored the clinicopathological characteristics and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 mutations in primary and metastatic duodenal malignant melanoma, in order to provide some experience on its differential diagnosis and treatment.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The 2 patients (a 63-year-old female [Patient 1] and a 54-year-old male [Patient 2]) experienced pain and discomfort in their upper abdomen. Additionally, one of them had a history of skin malignant melanoma.

DIAGNOSES

Patient 1 was diagnosed with primary duodenal malignant melanoma; and Patient 2 was diagnosed with metastatic duodenal malignant melanoma.

INTERVENTIONS

Patient 1 underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy; and patient 2 underwent complete surgical resection and lymph node dissection.

OUTCOMES

After surgery, Patient 1 survived after 26 months follow-up, and Patient 2 died of systemic multi-organ circulatory failure after 1 month follow-up.

LESSONS

Primary and metastatic cases should be diagnosed through previous medical history analysis and detailed physical and auxiliary examinations. This would enable a diagnosis based on characteristic histomorphology and immunohistochemical markers. An early diagnosis and surgical treatment can prolong patient survival and the molecular inspection of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 mutations can guide follow-up treatment.

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Small Intestine Presenting with Peritonitis: A Case Report

Malignant melanoma of the small intestine is mostly a metastatic tumor of other primary lesions, especially of skin origin. Primary malignant melanoma of the small intestine is very uncommon. The clinical presentation is usually nonspecific, thus leading to late diagnosis. We report a 42-year-old man who presented to the emergency department of Imam-Reza Hospital with symptoms and signs of peritonitis and was a candidate for emergency laparotomy and enterectomy. The medical and family history were unremarkable. A bulky mass was seen 190 cm away from the Treitz band, and a diagnosis of malignant melanoma was confirmed by histologic and immunohistochemical study. Further clinical examination revealed no primary tumor elsewhere, so the diagnosis of primary small intestinal melanoma was concluded. Although metastatic malignant melanoma in the GI tract is common, the primary one is a very rare entity. The diagnosis could be challenging because a thorough investigation is needed to rule out the possible initial origin.

Primary Duodenal Melanoma: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of a Rare Entity

Primary melanoma of the duodenum is an extremely rare, aggressive and life-threatening malignant neoplasm. Published data regarding the effectiveness of current treatment strategies is limited, and our knowledge relies mostly on sporadic case reports. The diagnosis of primary duodenal melanoma is challenging and is based on the patient's medical history and findings from physical examination and radiological and endoscopic imaging as well as proper and careful pathological examinations of the tumor. Despite the many advances in cancer treatment, the prognosis for patients with this type of melanoma remains extremely poor. Delayed diagnosis at advanced disease stage, the general aggressive behavior of this neoplasm, the technical difficulty in achieving complete surgical resection, along with the rich vascular and lymphatic drainage of the intestinal mucosa, all have a negative impact on patients' outcome. In the present review, we aimed to collect and summarize the currently available data in the literature regarding the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, management and long-term outcomes of this rare, malignant tumor, in order to expand knowledge of its biological behavior and investigate optimal therapeutic options for these patients. Additionally, we present our experience of a case involving a 73-year-old female with primary duodenal melanoma, who was successfully treated with complete surgical resection.

Melanoma metastasis mimicking gastric cancer: a challenge that starts from diagnosis

The gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon site of metastasis in melanoma. However, when the primary melanoma cannot be found, the diagnosis of gastric melanoma by endoscopic biopsy is problematic mainly because some tumors are amelanotic and do not contain melanin granules detectable by microscopy. A 56-year-old Caucasian man with melanoma was referred to us following an initial histopathological diagnosis via gastroscopy of poorly differentiated primary gastric carcinoma. A computerized tomography (CT) scan showed metastatic disease and on the basis of this information we started palliative chemotherapy. However, the atypical presentation of the disease with subcutaneous metastases prompted us to make a more in-depth evaluation. Immunohistochemical evaluation modified the diagnosis to melanoma. After only one cycle of chemotherapy, treatment was changed to dabrafenib + trametinib, which was better tolerated and initially induced a partial response. The patient is currently in good clinical condition 20 months after diagnosis. Our case report highlights the difficulty in diagnosing melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract and indicates the need for pathologists and clinicians to consider such a possibility when they are faced with a diagnosis of poorly differentiated gastric cancer and unusual sites of metastasis.

Primary gastric melanoma in adult population: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary gastric melanoma (PGM) is a rare malignant tumour of the stomach with poor prognosis. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the available literature on this entity and to highlight its biological behaviour and preferred treatment approach.

METHODS

PubMed and Cochrane bibliographical databases were independently searched (last search: 2 February 2020) by two investigators for articles reporting on PGM in the adult population.

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and concerned collectively 25 patients (18 males and seven females) with an age of 63.4 ± 8.97 years (mean ± standard deviation). Main symptoms included abdominal pain (64%), weight loss (48%) and hematemesis or melena (32%). The most frequent tumour location was the body of the stomach (54.2%). All tumours were surgically resected and the majority of the patients had a partial gastrectomy (52%). Median recurrence time was 5 months and 12% of patients reached 5-year survival landmark.

CONCLUSION

PGM is a rare disease characterized by an aggressive malignant behaviour. Its differential diagnosis from a metastatic lesion is crucial. A prompt diagnosis and therapeutic approach are needed. Further studies are required to elucidate the optimal management of this clinical entity.

Long-term survival after surgical treatment followed by adjuvant systemic therapy for primary duodenal melanoma

Primary mucosal malignant melanomas of the gastrointestinal tract are rare tumors associated to poor prognosis. Primary duodenal involvement by pigmented lesions is even more uncommon, and only a few reports exist in the literature. We report the case of a patient with large primary duodenal melanoma that presented with upper intestinal obstruction and bleeding that was submitted to urgent pancreaticoduodenectomy followed by adjuvant systemic therapy with an oral alkylating agent (temozolomide) plus intravenous cisplatin. The patient presents no signs of recurrence 3 years after the surgery. We consider that radical surgical resection followed by systemic therapy is a safe and effective treatment strategy option for primary mucosal gastrointestinal melanomas.

Primary duodenal malignant melanoma: A case report

Background:

Melanoma is a neoplasm derived commonly from melanocytic cells of skin. Although coetaneous presentation of malignant melanoma is easily recognizable, the presentation of melanoma in other organs is so confusing. In particular, when it metastasizes to other organs, many bizarre figures and unusual organs may be involved. In this report, we present a case of primary duodenal malignant melanoma.

Case Presentation:

A 68-year-old man presented with a history of iron deficiency anemia. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a prominent papilla of duodenum along with an ulcerative lesion adjacent to second part of duodenum. Histopathologic evaluation showed a high-grade malignant neoplasm involving the bowel wall which was labeled for S100 protein and markers of melanocytic differentiation; Melan-A indicating the definitive diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the second portion of duodenal mucosa.

Conclusions:

In patients with a history of iron deficiency anemia, any GI symptom should be evaluated carefully. However, the diagnosis of primary GI melanomas in patients without any history of melanoma is possible. Full medical investigations are recommended in these patients with primary mucosal lesions.

Primary giant aggressive amelanotic duodenal melanoma

Primary malignant melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract is extremely rare. A 35-year-old man presented with complaints of abdominal pain and weight loss. Contrast enhanced computed tomography showed a large mass involving the duodenum and the superior mesenteric vessels. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a large, friable mass along the duodenal wall and biopsy was suggestive of malignant melanoma. A detailed physical examination and whole body imaging (positron emission tomography and computed tomography) did not reveal any other lesion. The patient underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy with segmental resection and anastomosis of the superior mesenteric vein as well as a segmental colectomy. His postoperative recovery was uneventful. The histopathology of the operative specimen showed a malignant amelanotic melanoma arising from the duodenum with lymph nodal involvement. He received oral temozolomide. However, he developed liver metastasis at six months and again at ten months, which was managed with radiofrequency ablation both times. He is doing well at 32 months of follow-up review. Multimodality treatment including surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and salvage therapy appears to be a promising tool for achieving long-term survival in such patients.

Melanoma Metastasizing to the Small Intestine: A Case Report Illustrating Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Involvement

Symptomatic gastrointestinal (GI) involvement of melanoma is rare, however, it is a frequent autopsy finding in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma. We present a case of metastatic cutaneous melanoma with initial asymptomatic jejunal involvement as found on a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, with subsequent duodenal perforation.

A 69-year-old man presented to the hospital with a three-week history of worsening headache, dizziness, and vomiting with a history of Clark level III malignant melanoma that was completely excised from the right flank three years ago at the hospital. A magnetic resonance image of his brain revealed a subacute right-sided cerebellar hemorrhage adjacent to a 1-cm nodule. He underwent a right suboccipital craniomy with resection; the biopsy of which revealed metastatic malignant melanoma. A staging positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed areas of increased uptake of fludeoxyglucose (FDG) in the left lower lung and left upper quadrant of the abdomen abutting the small bowel. Subsequent enteroscopy revealed a 40-mm cratered jejunal ulcer with heaped edges; the biopsy of which also revealed malignant melanoma. Since he had widespread disease, abdominal surgery was deferred, and treatment with ipilimumab and radiotherapy to the brain was initiated. He presented three months later with acute abdominal pain and diarrhea. A computed tomography scan of his abdomen revealed free peritoneal air, and an exploratory laparotomy revealed a mass at the antimesenteric border of the duodenum with a biopsy consistent with melanoma. The perforated area was resected and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Unfortunately, our patient had a postoperative intracranial hemorrhage and was referred to palliative care.

Our case portrays how malignant melanoma may metastasize insidiously and widely and present as a catastrophe. Melanoma involvement in the GI tract is a poor prognostic marker. Our case offers a unique illustration of both the occult and manifest gastrointestinal involvement of melanoma and underscores the importance of clinical suspicion in patients with a history of melanoma who present with unexplained GI symptoms.

Duodenal and gallbladder metastasis of regressive melanoma: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Malignant melanoma involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be primary or metastatic. Small bowel is the commonest site of GI metastases from cutaneous malignant melanoma, metastatic lesion in the gallbladder is extremely rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report describes the presentation of metastatic melanoma in duodenum and gallbladder. A 45-year-old man has presented melena with intermittent abdominal pain. On physical examination we found a small lesion between the fourth and fifth toes, associated with inguinal lymph node. An Abdominal ultrasound revealed diffuse duodenal thickening. Upper endoscopy was performed and discovered an ulcerative lesion in the second part of the duodenum. The biopsy with immunohistochemical stains was in favor of a duodenal location of melanoma. Computed tomography (CT) revealed many circumferential thickening of ileal loops associated with a nodular lesion in the anterior wall of the gallbladder. The patient was treated by palliative chemotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Malignant melanoma of the GI tract may be primary or secondary. The small bowel is the most affected, but it's rare in the gallbladder. The clinical presentation can mimic the other intestinal tumors, and the diagnosis is based on imaging; CT scan and GI endoscopy have a key role on the diagnosis, and the treatment depends on the location and the number of lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastases of melanoma in the GI tract are uncommon, the diagnosis must be suspected in any patient with a history of melanoma with digestive signs.

Primary gastric malignant melanoma: challenge in preoperative diagnosis

Primary gastric melanoma is an extremely rare clinical entity. The clinical manifestation is not specific and usually similar with other common malignancies at this site, such as gastric cancer and lymphoma. And there are no specific radiological features either. Preoperative diagnosis via biopsy is usually difficult, since melanoma pigment could be absent in the biopsy tissue. Here, we report a case of a 50-year-old woman with a mass in the stomach found by gastroscopy. Biopsy was taken twice preoperatively under gastroscope and it was diagnosed as gastric carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor respectively. Radical surgery was performed with gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection. Postoperative pathological examination finally made a definite diagnosis of gastric melanoma by immunohistochemistry. We summarize the reasons for preoperative misdiagnosis and discuss the difficulty in diagnosing gastric melanoma according to literature.

Early detection of colon cancer by amino acid profiling using AminoIndex Technology: a case report

Most tumor markers have low detection rates for curable stages of cancer and are therefore not satisfactory for use in a healthy population. A new cancer risk calculation method, AminoIndex Cancer Screening (AICS), uses multiple plasma amino acid concentrations to calculate the risks for several cancers simultaneously and is suggested to have a high detection rate for early-stage cancers and a low false-positive rate for adenomas. Here, we describe a male patient with a family history of colorectal cancer who underwent AICS. He was judged as Rank C for colorectal cancer, which reportedly has a specificity of 95%, a sensitivity of 41%, and an estimated positive predictive value of 0.67%. He underwent colonoscopy for a secondary screening, which revealed a 10-mm adenoma-like lesion in the ascending colon, with a biopsy report of partial carcinoma. The tumor was endoscopically removed and diagnosed as carcinoma in situ (carcinoma in adenoma). This early detection method allowed complete resection of the carcinoma, and the patient is in remission. This is the first case in which a curable cancer was detected using AICS. With its high detection rate for early-stage cancers and its ease of use, this tool, which recently became available in Japan, may be beneficial for simultaneous screening of the general population for multiple cancers.