Small bowel obstruction caused by hemorrhagic metastatic melanoma: case report and literature review

Abstract Melanoma is one of the most common cancers and causes of death from skin cancer. It is also one of the most common malignancies to metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract. However, the incidence of gastrointestinal metastases from unknown primary cutaneous melanoma is reported to be 4–9%....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of surgical case reports 2022-09, Vol.2022 (9)
Main Authors: Wu, Fanyi, Lee, M Sung, Kim, Daniel E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case Series
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Summary:Abstract Melanoma is one of the most common cancers and causes of death from skin cancer. It is also one of the most common malignancies to metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract. However, the incidence of gastrointestinal metastases from unknown primary cutaneous melanoma is reported to be 4–9%. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques, only 1.5–4.4% of metastases to the gastrointestinal tract are detected before death. We report a patient with no prior history of melanoma who presented with both gastrointestinal hemorrhage and small bowel obstruction. Diagnostic laparoscopy, followed by small bowel resection, was performed after a red blood cell radionuclide scan showed active hemorrhage. Pathologic examination confirmed metastatic melanoma of the jejunum. Additional small bowel resections were required for recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, confirming two additional metastases. A review of the literature on small intestinal melanoma causing hemorrhage and obstruction is discussed.
ISSN:2042-8812
2042-8812
DOI:10.1093/jscr/rjac395