Primary malignant melanoma of the small intestine: A rare case report and review of literature

Background: Primary melanomas originating in the small intestine are extremely rare. It is commonly believed that the vast majority of cases probably are metastatic from an occult primary cutaneous or ocular lesion. Case Report: Here, we reported the case of 90-year-old man who was found to have a primary malignant melanoma in the ileum. At clinical presentation the patient showed lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, and weight loss. The preoperative diagnosis of a small intestinal tumor was based on the findings of CT scanning. This diagnosis was confirmed at laparotomy, and an enterectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen clarified the exact nature of the lesion, confirming the diagnosis of melanoma. Conclusion: A thorough postoperative investigation did not reveal a primary lesion in the skin, anus, oculus, or any other location. Thus, we diagnosed this tumor as a primary lesion.