Gastrointestinal complications of metastatic malignant melanoma.

In a retrospective search of over 450 patients with melanoma, 13 were identified as having gastrointestinal metastatic disease. The clinical symptoms are nonspecific. The histology was either superficial spreading or nodular, and the depth of invasion was highly variable. The average survival of patients who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic gastrointestinal (GI) metastatic disease was 14 months. We conclude that a subset of patients with malignant melanoma will present with symptomatic GI involvement, especially those with primary lesions of Clark Level III or deeper. Operative intervention in this group of symptomatic patients can be safe, and palliation for prolonged periods has been obtained. The authors encourage an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach.