Primary malignant melanoma of the stomach: A rare neoplasm

Abstract

<br>The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a rare site of primary malignant melanoma. Most of the melanomas diagnosed in the GIT are secondary to cutaneous melanomas. Very few cases of primary melanoma of the stomach have been reported in the literature. We report a rare case of primary malignant melanoma of the stomach in a 60-year-old female patient who presented with nonspecific symptoms. Imaging revealed multiple liver metastases, and on subsequent evaluation, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) showed a lesion in the stomach. Biopsy from the lesion in the stomach was suggestive of melanoma. After excluding other sites of melanoma, a diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the stomach with liver metastasis was made. Primary malignant melanoma of the stomach is an exceedingly rare neoplasm. UGIE and biopsy remain the mainstay of diagnosis. Most of the patients present with advanced stage disease, and the prognosis remains dismal. The response to chemotherapy as well as targeted therapy is not well documented in the literature.<br>