[Malignant melanoma of the anorectum]

Malignant melanoma of the anal canal in stages I, II and III, respectively, was diagnosed in a 58-year-old woman and two men, aged 69 and 73 years. The patients' age was thus above the average reported age of manifestation (60 years) of this tumour. In two patient the tumours had been incorrectly diagnosed because of their proximity to the linea dentata and their similarity to haemorrhoids: operation had been delayed for four and about six months, respectively. Treatment of choice for stages I and II was abdominoperineal amputation of the rectum, while in the patient with stage III a colostomy was performed as a local palliative measure. The patients with stage II and III tumour died after six and 12 months, respectively, a survival time which corresponds to that expected from published series. Radiotherapy did not influence tumour growth in the patient in stage III. The patient in stage I has been free of tumour for six months.