Abstract

MELANOCARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX

*Dr. Sanjivani Wanjari and Dr. Poonam Varma Shivkumar

Abstract

Introduction: Melanocarcinoma or malignant melanoma of the cervix is an extremely rare neoplasm of the uterine cervix. It is more common in postmenopausal and elderly women above 60 years. The etiology is not exactly known and the prognosis is poor. The incidence of genital tract mucosal melanomas has been estimated at 1.6 cases per 1 million females with only less than 2% accounting for malignant melanoma of the cervix. Case report: Here we are presenting a case of FIGO stage 1A who was successfully treated with surgery Werthiems’ hysterectomy type II. The patient was diagnosed in early stage and hence was amenable to radical surgery. The patient is well and is being followed up. Discussion: The symptoms can be an unusual discharge or abnormal bleeding PV. It can be either post-coital bleeding or postmenopausal bleeding. Diagnosis is done by gynaecological Examination wherein they appear as a polypoid growth over the cervix, which is dark coloured often black or blue coloured. Confirmation is done by histopathological examination. Diagnosis gets delayed because the symptoms can be confused with other gynaecological conditions. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, radical hysterectomy with wide resection to achieve clear margins of at least 2cm and regional lymphadenectomy. Palliative care in advanced disease and disease recurrences can be done with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Conclusion: It is extremely important to diagnose malignant melanoma of the cervix and treat it at an early stage, as the prognosis is poor. Factors that lead to a better survival rate are, the size of the primary tumour, clear margins after surgical resection and no lymph node involvement.

Keywords: melanocarcinoma, malignant melanoma, cervix.