Two cases of primary malignant melanoma of the lung and literature review

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of primary malignant melanoma of the lung (PMML), and improve the understanding of the disease. Methods The clinical data of two PMML patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the literatures in recent fifteen years were reviewed.The two cases were pathologically diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment were summarized. Results Two cases were both elder women and admitted to our department with complaints of chest tightness without any other specific signs and symptoms.Chest CT revealed lung mass.One patient underwent transbronchial needle aspiration which showed a malignant tumor cell, immunohistochemical result showed HMB45(+ + ), S100(+ + ). Another patient underwent CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lung mass, which showed small round cell malignant tumor, immunohistochemical result showed S-100(+ + ), HMB45(several + ), and Melan-A(+ + ). Both cases were diagnosed as PMML and died after three months of diagnosis. Conclusions PMML is a relatively rare disease, of which clinical symptoms and CT images are lack of specificity.Diagnosis is based on pathological biopsy.Surgery is still the preferred treatment for PMML.Chemotherapy and targeted immunotherapy can also improve prognosis, but the overall prognosis is extremely poor. Key words: Primary malignant melanoma of the lung; Diagnosis; Treatment