THE MALIGNANT MELANOMAS OF THE RECTUM

Primary malign melanoma of the anorectal region is an uncommon lesion. It constitutes 0,3-3,2 % of all cancers of the body. Melanomas of the anorectal region are the third most common location of the melanomas following skin and eye. Anorectal melanomas are the most frequent tumor among primary melanomas of the gastrointestinal tract. Some difficulties are present because of the late diagnosis and poor prognosis. 3 cases with malign melanoma of the rectum were diagnosed and two of them underwent abdomino-perineal amputation of the rectum at surgical clinic of Istanbul Medical Faculty in the last two years. Those cases were discussed with literature. Abdomino-perineal amputation of the rectum is favored procedure for curable cases. Local recurrences are less frequent in patients, than in patients treated by local excision of tumor. Improvement of the survival rate of primary anorectal melanoma depends upon early diagnosis.