Synonyms
Anal melanoma
Definition
Anal melanoma is a rare and aggressive mucosal melanocytic malignancy, first described by Moore in 1857.
It constitutes 0.5–2% of all anal malignancies and represents less than 2% of all melanomas. The anus is the third most common site for melanoma after the skin and the eye and is the most common site for primary gastrointestinal melanoma.
Patients usually present with anal bleeding (the most common complaints in 50–90% of patients), anal or perianal mass (30%) or anal pain (10%); they can also complain of tenesmus, change in bowel habits, diarrhea, constipation, or incontinence. If a metastatic disease is present, symptoms may include weight loss, anemia, fatigue, groin masses, or bowel obstruction. The average time between the occurrence of symptoms and a confirmed diagnosis is 5–6 months, because patients tend to delay presentation to their doctors, they cannot see asymptomatic lesions and symptoms of anal melanoma are commonly misdiagnosed as...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Further Reading
Droesch, J. T., Flum, D. R., & Mann, G. N. (2005). Wide local excision or abdominoperineal resection as the initial treatment for anorectal melanoma? American Journal of Surgery, 189, 446–449.
Heeney, A., Mulsow, J., & Hyland, J. M. (2011). Treatment and outcomes of anorectal melanoma. The Surgeon, 9, 27–32.
Ni, S., Huang, D., Chen, X., Huang, J., Kong, Y., Xu, Y., Du, X., & Sheng, W. (2012). c-kit gene mutation and CD117 expression in human anorectal melanomas. Human Pathology, 43, 801–807.
Singer, M., & Mutch, M. G. (2006). Anal melanoma. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 19, 78–87.
Stefanou, A., & Nalamati, S. P. (2011). Anorectal melanoma. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 24, 171–176.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Chatelain, D., Fléjou, JF. (2017). Malignant Melanoma, Anus. In: Carneiro, F., Chaves, P., Ensari, A. (eds) Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1507
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1507
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40559-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40560-5
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine