Malignant melanoma of the prostate: Primary or metastasis? A case report

Malignant melanoma of the prostate is rare. Twenty-five studies describing 45 cases have been reported. Prostate melanoma is characterized by an insidious onset and poor prognosis. The prognosis and treatment vary according to primary or secondary melanoma.

A 75-year-old man attended the hospital due to low back pain of 2 mo duration. He denied a history of trauma or abnormal urinary symptoms. Digital rectal examination showed indentation in the left lobe of the prostate, 1 cm in diameter. His prostate-specific antigen was 5.6 ng/mL and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT) showed focal glucose metabolism in the left lobe. Imaging showed bone metastases to T12 and bilateral ribs. Transperineal prostate biopsy was done and three tissue specimens on the left side showed prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 3 + 3 = 6), but the specimen on the right side showed malignant melanoma. The patient underwent T12 tumor resection and pathology findings indicated metastatic malignant melanoma. The patient underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy, and gastroscopy revealed multiple mucosal black spots in the gastric body and fundus. The patient was diagnosed with secondary malignant prostate melanoma and primary gastric disease.

Diagnosis of primary prostate melanoma requires caution and ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT may result in false-negative detection of melanoma.