Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a fatal skin malignancy with uncontrolled growth of melanocytes. The incidence in Taiwan was 0.76-0.91 per 100,000 people in 2007 [1]. The lung is one of the visceral organs to which melanoma frequently metastasizes. Some patients show only a pulmonary tumor at diagnosis. If they fulfill certain criteria, these patients can be diagnosed as having primary pulmonary melanoma. If not, they are categorized as pulmonary melanoma with occult primary. We reported a 51-year-old man with a solitary pulmonary melanoma found incidentally at admission for thyroglossal ductal carcinoma. Bronchoscopy showed a dark-green endobronchial tumor obstructing the posterior segmental bronchus of the right upper lobe. Subsequent work-up showed no primary lesion in the skin, mucus membrane or eyes. Positron emission tomography showed negative results. The patient underwent right upper lobe and middle lobe bilobectomy and the diagnosis of melanoma with occult primary was established. We reviewed the literature and summarized the epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, treatment and prognosis of pulmonary melanoma. In diagnosing a solitary pulmonary melanoma, the primary site should be carefully sought, and surgical intervention should be performed if possible.
Published Version
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