Abstract
A case of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina diagnosed cytologically was reported. A dark-brownish tumor of fingertip-size was observed, which had developed on the vaginal wall near the introitus of an 87-year-old female.The main cytologic features on vaginal and scraping smears of the tumor were the scattered distribution of atypical cells, anisocytosis, eccentric nuclei with a finely granular chromatin pattern, unusually large red nucleoli, intranuclear vacuoles and finely granular melanin pigment packed in the cytoplasm. No other lesions showing signs of malignant melanoma than the vaginal one could be found anywhere else in the patient's body.A radical vulvectomy with bilateral groin dissection, wide excision of the vagina and external Co60 irradiation for pelvic lymph nodes were carried out. There has been no sign of recurrence during the 6 months following an operation.Cytologic diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the vagina seems to be extremely important in order to avoid its tendency toward hematogenous metastasis.
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