Primary amelanotic melanoma of the vagina: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Objective: Reviewing clinical, histological and immunohistochemical diagnosis, therapeutic alternatives and factors influencing prognosis for amelanotic melanoma of the vagina.

Materials and methods: This article presents the case of a 49yearold patient who consulted the Engativá Hospital’s Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy Unit due to an 8 cm diameter necrotic pearlywhite vaginal mass on the anterior vaginal wall. The hospital is a secondary level complexity institution dealing with low socioeconomic level patients affiliated to the public (subsidized) social security (health) system. A broad resection was made of the lesion. Surgical pathology revealed epithelioid fusocellular malignant melanoma. A systematic literature search was made using the following key words: primary melanoma and vagina in Medline databases via PubMed, Cochrane and Ebsco.

Results: 31 of the 489 articles found were directly related to the topic; 10 new case reports and a review were selected. Clinical diagnosis is not easy; HMB45 and S100 proteins are extremely useful in identifying it. Response to surgical treatment, radiotherapy and chemotherapy is poor. Prognosis depends on ploidy, amelanosis and mitotic index.

Conclusions: Primary melanoma of the vagina is a rare neoplasm and has a poor prognosis. It forms part of a group of mucosal melanoma having an origin and biological behavior different to that of cutaneous melanoma. It tends to have rapid hematogenous dissemination and local relapses. Treatment is based on conservative surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy; however, its effectiveness is limited.