Melanoma beyond the skin: A case of anorectal melanoma

Abstract

AbstractAnorectal melanoma is a rare cancer with a very poor prognosis. Symptoms on presentation include rectal bleeding, anal pain, an appreciable anorectal mass, change in bowel habits, pruritis, and tenesmus. Current surgical treatment options include abdominoperineal resection and wide local excision (WLE). However, recent reports suggest that WLE is adequate for disease control while minimizing the morbidity associated with surgery. We present a case of a 63 year old female with an initial diagnosis of an unspecified rectal tumour found to be anorectal melanoma.