Radiation-induced malignant melanoma of the cervix

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Cervix: An Integrated Analysis of Case Reports and Series

Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, is a type of malignant tumour that originates from melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Primary malignant melanomas of the female genital tract are rare. Similarly, primary malignant melanoma of cervix, which originates from cervical melanocytes, is an extremely rare disease and the second most common type of female melanoma in women aged between 15 to 44 years worldwide. To date, primary malignant melanoma of the cervix is characterized by poor patient prognosis and little consensus exists regarding the best treatment therapy. The situation is worsened by lack of clinical studies with large samples. Notably, surgery remains the preferred treatment option for patients with primary malignant melanomas of the cervix. Current treatments are based on Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics(2018) staging with reference to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This study is in order to find a more suitable treatment modality for primary malignant melanoma of cervix. Therefore, we first conducted an integrated analysis of case reports and series to assess the impact of various factors on the prognosis of such patients. In summary, this is the first pooled analysis including 149 cases of primary cervical melanoma. We found that patients who underwent radical hysterectomy-based surgery, those with non-metastatic lymph nodes and those who underwent lymphadenectomy had significantly higher survival rates. In patients who had RH-based surgery, survival rates at the 24m time point of those who did not add other treatments was higher than those who did, but for those who had total hysterectomy-based surgery, the addition of other treatments to prolong median survival may be considered. In the overall analysis, age and lymphadenectomy were associated with increased and reduced risk of death in these patients, respectively. Although there is no statistical difference, stage III&IV, TAH, lymphatic metastases increase the risk of death; whereas radical hysterectomy was associated with reduced risk of death. In the subgroup analysis, for patients who have undergone radical hysterectomy-based surgery, lymphadenectomy reduces the risk of death, while lymphatic metastases and complementary other treatments increase the risk of death. For patients who have undergone total hysterectomy-based surgery, complementary treatment reduces the risk of death. In conclusion, via summarizing previous reports, the recommended treatment procedure for PMMC are radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The addition of other treatment options for patients who undergoing RH-based surgery need further study.

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Cervix: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Background

Gynecologic melanomas are extremely rare malignancies, and primary malignant melanoma of the cervix (PMMC) is the rarest among them all, with less than 100 cases reported so far. Although some conditions have been correlated with the pathogenesis of this entity, no specific risk factor has been yet identified, with vaginal bleeding being the most common symptoms. The diagnosis is based on physical examination with speculum assessment and cytologic and histopathologic findings accompanied with immunohistochemical staining of lesion's biopsies. Case Presentation. We report a case of PMMC in a 34-year-old para-2 patient, among the youngest cases of PMMC reported, that presented to our clinic for routine examination. Gynecologic examination demonstrated a dark, heavily fully pigmented cervical growth completely covering the entire external cervical os. Biopsy obtained and showed malignant melanoma. She underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The pathological diagnosis was FIGO stage IB1 PMMC. Despite 2 courses of anti-PD-1 antibody (Nivolumab) treatment, the patient passed away 13 months after diagnosis (12 months after surgery).

Conclusions

Early diagnosis and subsequently early treatment are of high importance regarding patients' prognosis and survival. No standardized protocols or treatment guidelines specific for this rare cancer have been issued; thus, clinicians are called to assess each case individually. Current treatment options are based on surgical excision mostly with radical hysterectomy, but in advanced or recurrent state of the disease, other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, can be employed. Prognosis for these patients is very poor, and survival rate remains extremely low, with the median OS reported being less than 2 years. Reporting and publishing of such cases are both of paramount importance for the better understanding of this uncommon cervical malignancy, and further biological and clinical investigations are required for more suitable and effective therapies to be determined. A new staging system, specific to PMMC, could be of great use for the better correlation of the disease's stage and prognosis of these patients.

Primary malignant melanoma of the cervix: Report of 14 cases and review of literature

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 61.2 years (range, 42-78 years). The median overall survival of the patients at stage I, II and III were 39.2 months, 47.8 months and 9.0 months (P=0.574) and the 2-year overall survival for each stage were 80.0%, 50.0% and 0.0% respectively. Twelve (85.7%) patients developed recurrence and eleven patients (78.6%) died. Ten patients received surgery and four patients were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Immunotherapy was administrated to two patients after surgery. The mean survival time of patients with surgery and without surgery were 47.9 vs.7.75 months (P=0.047). Patients received radical hysterectomy had longer survival than patients underwent total hysterectomy (66.8 months vs 19.5 months, P=0.016).

METHODS

Clinical data from 14 patients with primary malignant melanoma of the cervix between January 1981 and December 2014 were reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with primary malignant melanoma of the cervix have a poor prognosis. Radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphnode dissection may offer better prognosis for stage I and II patients.

A Case of Malignant Melanoma of the Uterine Cervix with Disseminated Metastases throughout the Vaginal Wall

Malignant melanoma (MM) in the female genital tract accounts for less than 2% of all melanomas, and the vast majority associated occur in the vulva and vagina. Primary MM of the uterine cervix is extremely rare and its prognosis is very poor. We report a case of primary MM of the cervix with dissemination throughout the vaginal wall. A 66-year-old woman presented with postmenopausal bleeding. Gynecologic examination demonstrated a 2 cm polypoid blackish-pigmented tumor on the cervix with multiple small blackish-pigmented lesions throughout the vaginal wall. Cervical Pap smear cytology showed malignant melanoma. MRI and PET/CT did not detect any distant or lymph node metastases. She underwent radical hysterectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and total vaginectomy. The pathological diagnosis was FIGO stage IIIA primary cervical MM. She received adjuvant chemotherapy with 6 courses of dacarbazine, but 6 months later, multiple lung metastases were detected. Despite 4 courses of anti-PD-1 antibody (nivolumab) treatment, she died of the disease 13 months after surgery.