ANORECTAL MALIGN MELANOMA: RETROSPECTIVE SURVEY OF 11 CASES

Abstract

Anorectal malignant melanoma is an aggressive tumor with reported-5 year survival rate of 6-10%. Recommendation for surgical therapy vary from local excision to abdominoperineal resection (APR). Symptoms, therapy, and survival were retrospectively examined in 11 patients with anorectal malignant melanoma diagnosed between January 1970-1991 in our clinic. 2 of the cases were excluded because their files were lost. 2 of the remaining 9 patients refused the suggested therapy, 2 had sigmoid loop colostomies, 1 had local excision, and 4 had APR amputations. The tumor size in most of the patients were very large, that could not let a local excision. When possible APR were done. One patient who had local excision 8 years ago is still living and free of the disease. 2 patients who refused the therapy died 1.5 and 2 months after the diagnosis. 2 patients who had loop colostomies died 3 months after the operation. 2 of the patients who had APR died 7 months, 1 died 8 months after the operations. 1 patient who had APR in January 1991 is still living and has multiple liver metastases in CT.