Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus

Abstract

A case of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus which complies with current criteria for this diagnosis is presented. It appears to be the seventh reported case. The patient experienced no dysphagia during the survivial period of eight months following resection of the tumor. Substernal and interscapular pain were considerably relieved after operation. Death occurred after a short period of rapid deterioration. Autopsy disclosed widespread involvement of the mediastinal and the supraclavicular nodes and multiple metastatic lesions involving the right frontal lobe of the brain. These latter lesions were thought to explain the euphoria which was present during the last surviving months. A résumé of 14 previously reported cases of malignant melanoma of the esophagus is presented. Only 6 of those are currently considered primary in the esophagus. A summary of the current concepts of the pathology of tumors of this type is offered. © 1957.