It is never too late: ultra-late recurrence of melanoma with distant metastases. (9th March 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mansour, Dina; Kejariwal, Deepak
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2012
• Publication Date: 2012-03-09
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5474
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : The authors present the case of a 73-year-old lady presenting with weight loss, personality changes, transient confusion and visual loss, 38 years after initial surgical excision of a melanoma of the neck. CT and MRI of the brain showed cerebral metastases and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT showed an additional fludeoxyglucose avid lesion in the lung, which was biopsied. Histology confirmed metastatic malignant melanoma. She declined whole brain radiotherapy in favour of best supportive care and died 4 months after diagnosis. Life-long vigilance among patients with previous melanoma and awareness among physicians are necessary if late recurrences are to be recognised early, and outcomes improved. New imaging techniques including PET-CT may be helpful in diagnosing and staging melanoma recurrence. Treatment options for patients presenting with distant metastases are limited and the prognosis remains poor.