Melanoma anorectal

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

anal melanoma; Anal Melanoma; Anal mucosal melanoma; Anorectal melanoma; ARMM; Melanoma of the anus; melanoma of the rectum; Rectal melanoma

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Malignant melanoma of the anal or rectal mucosa, which in many cases is diagnosed at an advanced stage due to late clinical symptoms.

Occurrence/EpidemiologyThis section has been translated automatically.

Reliable epidemiological data are not available. In large skin cancer centres such cases are observed 1-2 times per year. Men seem to be preferentially affected (1m:1.5w).

ManifestationThis section has been translated automatically.

Middle adulthood (36-81 years, average 55 years)

Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.

The anorectal malignant melanoma is clinically impressive due to bleeding from the anus, undefined intestinal symptoms or pain during defecation. In a larger study (n=56 pat.) all melanomas were located <5cm, 47<3cm from the anal rim and thus digitally easy to palpate. Mostly painless or slightly painful, soft or firm, broad-based, mostly black or brown-blue, solitary (rarely multiple) tumors (about 10% of anorectal melanomas are amelanotic and therefore red in color).

TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.

The goal is a complete R0 resection with organ preserving surgical techniques. A difference in survival rate between abdomino-peritoneal resection (APR) and large-area organ preserving local excision (WLE) could not be detected.

Internal therapyThis section has been translated automatically.

S.u. melanoma, malignant

Progression/forecastThis section has been translated automatically.

  • The rate of local recurrence in larger collectives is around 30%, the 5-year survival rate is around 20%.
  • The median survival time is 21 months.
  • The prognostic factor is, as in the case of malignant melanoma of the skin, the tumour thickness ( Breslow index).

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Che X et al (2011) Anorectal malignant melanomas: retrospective experience with surgical management. World J Gastroenterol 17:534-539

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer