Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Vagina: A Case Report.
- Author:
Ji Young JANG
1
;
Do Kang KIM
;
Eun Hee LEE
;
Jun Sang KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Daejeon St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic University, Korea. jyjang6506@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Primary malignant melanoma;
Vagina;
Radiation therapy
- MeSH:
Diagnosis;
Female;
Humans;
Melanoma*;
Middle Aged;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Radiotherapy;
Vagina*
- From:The Journal of the Korean Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
2003;21(3):245-249
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is a very rare gynecological malignant tumor. Its clinical behavior is more aggressive than that of cutaneous and vulvar melanomas. We present a case of a large sized primary melanoma of the lower third of the vagina, with a cervical lesion, in a 58-year-old postmenopausal woman. The patient was treated with conventional external radiation therapy and intracavitary radiotherapy (ICR), without surgical treatment. Although the primary lesion showed a partial response, the patient died of extensive metastases, which were found 4.5 months after the initial diagnosis. We suggest that shortening the treatment period, such as hypofractionated radiation therapy and surgical removal, and various systemic therapies for preventing early distant metastasis, are appropriate treatments for a primary malignant melanoma of the vagina, with a large tumor size.
