Two cases of primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus

Primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus is an extremely rare tumour. The presentation of two such tumours in one hospital over a short period is thus unusual. The tumour is usually polypoid in nature, occurring anywhere in the oesophagus. Differentiation from other polypoid tumours by barium studies is very difficult, but at endoscopy primary melanoma has a characteristic appearance. At microscopy, junctional activity or atypical melanocytic hyperplasia are required to make the diagnosis. Treatment is surgical but the prognosis is very poor.