Malignant melanoma of the female genital system

Among 2,500 patients with malignant melanoma treated in our Institute since 1975, 25 patients were treated for melanoma of the female genital system. The sites of involvement were the vulva (11 patients), the vagina (13 patients) and the ovaries (one patient). The surgical treatment comprised radical vulvectomy (seven patients), vaginectomy (five patients) and wide local excision (11 patients). One of two patients with distant metastases at diagnosis received no local treatment. The patient with the ovarian melanoma was treated initially with salpingoophorectomy. The overall estimated 5-year survival rate was 64%. There was no statistical difference between the two primary modes of surgical treatment (radical vs local) in the survival of the patients (estimated 5-year survival = 73% and 67%, respectively), but patients receiving the radical treatment had thicker lesions. Malignant melanoma of the female genital tract, despite earlier reports, is apparently curable in the majority of patients and with increased awareness of this condition and earlier diagnosis, the results may further improve in the future.