Small bowel metastases of malignant melanoma: Palliative effect of surgical resection

Malignant melanoma shows an unusual predilection to metastasize to the smal t intestine. Three patients with malignant melanoma involving the small bow el are reported. One patient was operated on for small bowel obstruction an d the other two for gastrointestinal bleeding. Two patients remained welt 6 and 2 years, respectively after surgery. One patient died of metastatic me lanoma 4 years post-operation. Metastatic melanoma in the smalt bowel shoul d be suspected in any patient with a previous history of malignant melanoma who develops GI symptoms or chronic brood loss.Surgical treatment was the first choice; the prognosis after surgical resection was much better than f or other organ metastases or simultaneous metastases of the smalt bowel and other organs.