To compare BRAF V600E status of primarymelanoma and brainmetastases to assess for discordance by cross-sectional study, and to evaluate clinical implications on BRAF inhibitor therapy. Brain metastases are common in patients with advanced melanoma. Between 40% and 60% of melanomas demonstrate BRAF mutations, BRAF V600E being most common. Selective BRAF inhibitor therapy has shown improvement in...

INTRODUCTION We describe an original case of progressive severe dysphagia caused by a posterior mediastinal metastatic melanoma of unknown origin. To the best of our knowledge, such an event has never been described before in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION A progressive severe dysphagia case is reported induced by a melanoma of unknown origin (metastatic to a posterior mediastinal lymph no...

To examine for the genetic basis of metastatic progression in cutaneous melanoma, we have compared loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of several selected chromosome regions that are implicated in the initiation and progression of melanoma, and alterations of the p16INK4a gene in 14 pairs of primary tumor and synchronous or asynchronous metastasis excised from the same patients. The most frequent gene...

Clinical reports of primary sphenoid sinus melanoma and isolated gastric metastatic melanoma are rare. Thus, to the best of our knowledge, the present study reports the first case of isolated gastric metastasis from a sphenoid sinus melanoma. The aim of the present study was to discuss the clinicopathological and radiographic characteristics, the treatment strategy and the prognosis of sphenoid...

Melanoma remains as the deadliest form of skin cancer with limited and inefficient treatment options available for patients with metastatic disease. Within the last decade, the thrombin receptor, Protease Activated Receptor-1, has been described as an essential gene involved in the progression of human melanoma. PAR-1 is known to activate adhesive, invasive and angiogenic factors to promote mel...

PURPOSE Mucosal melanoma is a rare but aggressive subtype of melanoma with unique clinicopathologic features. We hypothesize that mucosal melanoma shows predilection for separate and unique metastatic pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of 19 patients (5 men and 14 women; median age 60 years, range 38-76 years) with metastatic mucosal melanoma presenting to a ter...

The differential diagnosis of metastatic ovarian malignant melanoma from primary ovarian tumors is a significant challenge, particularly if there is no obvious primary site. A 39-year-old patient with bilateral ovarian malignant melanoma presented as stage IV primary ovarian tumor, with metastases in the omentum and spleen. She underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oop...

INTRODUCTION Malignant tumors of the small bowel are rare. Melanoma of the small intestine is in most cases metastatic from a primary skin lesion. Perforation of small bowel melanoma is an extremely rare entity. To the best of our knowledge this is the fifth case published to date. CASE PRESENTATION We report a rare case of acute abdomen due to perforated metastatic small bowel melanoma in a ...

Malignant melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon neoplasm that could be primary or metastatic. Small intestine represents the most common site for the metastatic melanoma; however, it could be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Intussusception is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in adults compared to children. In 90% of the cases, the underlying cause can be foun...