Primary melanoma of the vagina: A review of treatment strategies

Introduction: Melanomas of the female lower genital tract are rare, but account for approximately 10% of melanomas diagnosed in women. The five-year survival rate for vaginal melanoma is low, approximating 18%. Due to the rarity of this disease and poor prognosis, there is limited information for evidencebased treatment strategies. Case Report: This case report discusses the management of a patient diagnosed with primary vaginal melanoma treated with total pelvic exenteration with negative margins, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide and cisplatin. Six months following the completion of chemotherapy, the patient developed liver metastasis. Conclusions: While adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide and cisplatin showed promise due to improved recurrence free survival compared to observation and high-dose interferon in patients with mucosal melanomas, further studies are needed to determine an effective adjuvant therapy regimen in patients with vaginal melanoma.