Case Report
Volume: 4 | Issue: 9 | Published: Oct 13, 2020 | Pages: 323 - 326 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr/173-1595426123
A case report of primary gastric melanoma causing massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding in an adult
Authors: Azhar Perwaiz , Sankar Narayanan , Rashi Sharma , Amanjeet Singh
Article Info
Authors
Azhar Perwaiz
Associate Director of Esophago Gastric Surgery, Division of GI Surgery, GI Oncology, Minimal Access, and Bariatric Surgery, Medanta The Medicity, Haryana, India
Sankar Narayanan
Associate Consultant, Division of GI Surgery, GI Oncology, Minimal Access, and Bariatric Surgery, Medanta The Medicity, Haryana, India
Rashi Sharma
Department of Histopathology, Medanta The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Amanjeet Singh
Director and Head of Colorectal Surgery, Division of GI Surgery, GI Oncology, Minimal Access, and Bariatric Surgery, Medanta The Medicity, Haryana, India
Publication History
Received: July 23, 2020
Revised: August 11, 2020
Accepted: September 14, 2020
Published: October 13, 2020
Abstract
Background: Melanomas involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are usually metastatic from primary cutaneous sites. Primary GI melanoma is a rare entity and mostly presents with non-specific symptoms. The diagnosis in most of the cases is made retrospectively on the immunohistochemistry findings. Case Presentation: A 32-year-old male presented with massive upper GI bleeding necessitating a total gastrectomy, and to our surprise, on immunohistochemical staining, the diagnosis of primary gastric melanoma was confirmed. Conclusion: The possibilities of rare mesenchymal tumors of the stomach should be considered while treating such patients. A high index of suspicion in such atypical scenarios should warrant a positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography to complete the staging workup. The natural course of the disease and its outcome is not known due to the paucity and rarity of this entity. Although the prognosis is dismal, it would help to prognosticate the patient and family before embarking onto a major surgical resection.
Keywords: Melanoma, primary gastric melanoma, melanin, S100, immunohistochemistry, green
