Primary vaginal melanoma: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND

Malignant melanoma of the vagina is a rare malignancy associated with high risk of recurrence, distant metastasis and short survival time. Due to the rarity of the disease, no prospective studies or validated treatment recommendations exist.

CASE

We describe the case of a 54-year-old patient with a locally advanced melanoma located on the anterior vaginal wall. At the time of diagnosis there was no evidence of nodal or distant metastasis.

CONCLUSION

In view of retrospective data in the literature, we treated the patient with colpectomy in terms of a wide local excision only. A more radical approach, adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy did not seem to be justifiable since there are no data demonstrating prolonged survival.