AMELANOTIC NODULAR MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF THE VULVA - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We describe a 55-year-old woman with an amelanotic nodular malignant m elanoma of the vulva. The tumour had developed within 3 months. Physic al examination showed a solid, erythematous, centrally depressed nodul ar tumour with a waxy appearance. It was 1.3 cm across and located on the right labium majus. The surface was eroded and showed teleangiecta sias. Histopathological examination revealed a nodular malignant melan oma with predominantly spindle-shaped tumour cells: stage IV-V, and 7. 2 mm thick. The primary tumour was excised but the patient died of gen eralized metastases 19 months later. There are very few reports on mel anoma of the vulva in the dermatological literature. In addition to th is case report we review the literature and discuss the clinical pictu re, histopathology and prognosis of this melanoma.