VULVAR AND VAGINAL MELANOMA - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Melanoma of the vulva is uncommon, and melanoma of the vagina is rare. The overall prognosis is poor and worse than for cutaneous melanomas. This appears to relate to diagnosis of genital lesions at an advanced stage. In a 28-year, retrospective analysis at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, there were 10 cases of primary melanoma of the lower g enital tract. Seven cases of vulvar melanoma nad three cases of vagina l melanoma were reviewed. All cases were in elderly women, and all wer e diagnosed at an advanced stage. The outcome in general was poor, reg ardless of therapy. This condition must be recognized earlier to affor d an optimal patient outcome. Elderly women must undergo regular gynec ologic care, and suspicious pigmented lesions must be biopsied.