PRIMARY MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

A 48-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of dysphagia, oft en associated with retrosternal chest pain. Upper endoscopy revealed a n unusual pigmented lesion within the middle portion of the esophagus, and multiple biopsies were obtained. The histopathology and immunohis tochemical profile of the tissue specimens were diagnostic of malignan t melanoma. A thorough clinical and radiographic evaluation was perfor med, providing no additional findings or alternative primary source. O f approximately 11,500 melanoma patients entered in the Duke Universit y melanoma database since 1970. this represents the only case of prima ry esophageal melanoma. The case is described and a review of the lite rature is presented. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.