[Anorectal malignant melanoma]

Primary malignant anorectal melanoma is a rare disease. A wide variety of different treatment modalities--local excision, rectal amputation, exenteration of the pelvis with or without lymph node dissection--are proposed and represent the limited experience of the individual clinic. Mean survival of between 7 and 32 months and a 5-year survival between 0% and 12% are reported. The need for histological examination of every pathologic formation of the anorectum is stressed. Local excision is preferable provided the tumor is small, complete excision is possible and tumor thickness is less than 2 mm. Inguinal lymph node dissection can be dispensed with for prophylactic purposes but is standard when metastases are proven. Four own cases are presented and discussed.