BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma is the most common metastatic tumor involving the gastrointestinal tract, the small bowel being the localization most frequently involved. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical presentation, treatment, evolution, and relate our experience with the surgical treatment of metastatic melanoma of the small bowel. METHODS: We reviewed 11 patients treated between September 1987 and September 2000. Patients' sex and age, anatomical site and staging of the primary tumor, time and clinical manifestation of the intestinal metastasis were noted. Type of surgery, occurrence of complications and necessity of reoperation, presence of others metastatic sites and survival were also studied. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 43,3 years, and 54,5% were male. The lower extremities were the most frequent primary site involved (54,5%), and in 18,2% of the cases intestinal metastasis were the first manifestation of the disease. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (72,7%), intestinal obstruction (36,3%) and abdominal mass (27,2%). Small bowel resection with entero-enteric anastomosis were done in 72,7% of patients, more than 50% of the cases in emergencial situation. Survival ranged between six days and 90 months, and the mortality was 72,7%. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal metastasis must be considered in any patient with gastrointestinal symptoms and previous history of melanoma, and the surgical treatment, despite of palliative intent, occasionally can provide long-term survival.
Melanoma; Neoplasm metastasis; Surgery; Intestine; small
