A case of the primary ovarian malignant melanoma arising from a cystic teratoma / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Primary malignant melanoma arising in a cystic teratoma of ovary is extremely rare. Approximately 25 cases of primary malignant melanoma arising from a cystic teratoma in ovary have been reported in the literature. The malignant transformation of benign cystic teratoma of ovary usually develops unilaterally in postmenopausal women. The common presenting symptoms are abdominal distention, lower abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. We report a case of primary malignant melanoma of ovary in a 45-year-old patient who underwent laparotomy for evaluation of a cystic mass in right ovarian cystic teratoma. Histopathological examination of the cyst showed that it was melanoma with pre-existed teratomatous components. Extraovarian primary site was not found. Nine years after the excision, brain metastases developed which were pathologically confirmed as metastatic melanoma. The patient subsequently developed pulmonary metastases and received immunochemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, dacarbazine, vinblastine, interleukin-2 and interferone-alpha. She is on a regular follow-up and continues to have stable disease for 9 months.