Diagnosis and management of primary malignant melanoma of the lung: a case report / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Melanoma develops in the skin or the mucosa of organs. It spreads via lymphatic channels or the bloodstream to the regional lymph nodes or organs such as the brain, liver, and lung. Melanoma of the lung is nearly always metastatic, and primary malignant melanoma of the lung is very rare, with only 30 cases reported in the English literature. The possibility of skin lesions that have disappeared, or of undetected primary sites, makes it difficult to confirm true primary tumors. Therefore, a thorough workup is needed to make the diagnosis. Since metastatic melanoma is incurable, the goal of treatment is palliation. However, because of the rare experience of primary melanoma of the lung, it is difficult to predict the prognosis. We experienced one patient with primary malignant melanoma of the lung with metastases who had been managed with surgery, interferon-alpha, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy over 5 years. This case report presents the diagnosis and management of primary malignant melanoma of the lung.