TITLE:
Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Vagina in Bangladesh: Report of a Case Series and Review of the Literature
AUTHORS:
Shahana Pervin, Farzana Islam, Annekathryn Goodman
KEYWORDS:
Melanoma, Vaginal Cancer, Bangladesh
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.6 No.5,
April
28,
2016
ABSTRACT: Objective: This study describes the characteristics of patients with
primary malignant melanoma of the vagina and their treatment at National
Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from February
2013-January 2015. Materials/Methods: Eight patients with primary malignant
melanoma of the vagina were identified. Medical records were reviewed for demographic
information, treatment, and outcomes. This investigation was approved by the
Ethics Committee of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital. Results:
The median age was 48 years (range: 35 - 65 years) and most patients were
premenopausal. Seven of the eight patients presented with International
Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage II. The five patients had
disease confined mainly to the upper and middle thirds of the vagina. One
patient was diagnosed with stage IV disease. In two patients, cervical
metastases were present. Almost all patients received radiotherapy. Two
patients with stage II disease developed local recurrences within eighteen
months. The one patient with stage IV disease died ten months after diagnosis. Conclusion:
Primary malignant melanomas of the vagina are uncommon, highly aggressive
tumors that are associated with poor overall survival. Surgery is the mainstay
of treatment. Nearly 80% of vaginal melanomas will recur. Overall 5-year
survival ranges from 5% to 25%. The size of the tumor (>than 3 cm) and the
presence of lymphadenopathy at diagnosis worsen the overall survival.