Primary genitourinary melanoma

Nguyen, An T; Kavolius, Jeffrey P; Russo, Paul; Grimaldi, Greg; Katz, Jared; Brady, Mary Sue

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Volume 57, Issue 4 , Pages 633-638, April 2001

Primary genitourinary melanoma

An T Nguyen
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
Jeffrey P Kavolius
- Department of Surgery, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Paul Russo
- Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
Greg Grimaldi
- Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
Jared Katz
- Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
Mary Sue Brady
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Reprint requests: Mary Sue Brady, M.D., Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021

Received 22 February 2000; received in revised form 4 December 2000; accepted 4 December 2000.

Abstract

Objectives. To describe the presentation, management, and clinical outcome of patients with genitourinary melanoma.

Methods. We identified 14 patients with genitourinary melanoma treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York and Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. The presentation, surgical treatment, disease progression, and outcome of these patients were reviewed. Survival was analyzed, using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method.

Results. The presentation and management of patients with genitourinary melanoma were varied. Overall, the prognosis was poor, with a median survival of 43 months, and only 3 patients were alive, without disease, at last follow-up. Our findings confirm a poor prognosis in patients with this rare disease.

Conclusions. Genitourinary melanoma is a rare form of the disease with an unfavorable clinical outcome. Less than one third of patients survive long term, although patients with scrotal melanomas may have a better prognosis.