[Anorectal malignant melanoma: report of 33 cases]

33 Cases of anorectal malignant melanoma (ARMM) diagnosed pathologically were treated in Tianjin Cancer Hospital from 1996 to 1994. Some of these patients were treated with abdominoperineal resection (Mile's operation) and local resection plus chemotherapy, biotherapy and radiotherapy, others were given chemotherapy only. 25 cases were followed up from six months up to six years. The results showed that the median survival time was 23.5 months in the group of Mile's, 17.5 months of local resection and 5.5 months in chemotherapy alone respectively. The authors considered that early diagnosis and treatment are the key to raise the survival rate. For the cases diagnosed pathologically the Mile's operation should be performed and groin dissection is necessary for cases of groin lymphatic metastasis.