LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AFTER LOCALLY AGGRESSIVE ANORECTAL MELANOMA

Anorectal melanoma is a rare disease and, unlike cutaneous melanoma, t here are few guidelines regarding optimal management. It has a reputat ion for having a poor prognosis, which has been attributed to a delay in diagnosis and to a lack of effective systemic therapy. It has also been suggested that the biology of this tumor may differ from that of cutaneous melanoma. An interesting ease of anorectal melanoma is prese nted which highlights the unique considerations and challenges encount ered by medical oncologists and surgeons who treat this disease.