Primary malignant melanoma of the small bowel: a case study.

Malignant melanoma involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is diagnosed premortem in only 4 per cent of patients with the disease, even though in autopsy series 60 per cent of patients who died of malignant melanoma have GI metastases. Usually, these GI lesions are metastatic. However, a few cases of primary GI malignant melanoma have been reported. Such a case is reported and discussed, including the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis of this disease.