MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF THE VAGINA - REPORT OF 19 CASES

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 55  (6) , 720-727
Abstract
Sixteen previously unreported cases of primary vaginal melanoma were studied and 3 previously reported cases are updated. Local control was obtained by means of primary radical surgery in 5 of 7 patients, 3 of whom are known to have subsequently died of disseminated disease. One patient initially treated with radical surgery had a local recurrence with metastasis to a regional node, but has now survived for 14 yr following a 2nd radical surgical procedure. Eight patients were treated primarily with radiotherapy, and 6 have died with metastatic melanosomea; another died following pelvic exenteration for persistent local disease. Only 1 patient showed evidence of transient control after radiotherapy, but this patient had a local recurrence 36 mo. later and died with metastases. The overall 5-yr survival rate for these 19 patients was 21%.