Primary esophageal malignant melanoma.

Primary esophageal malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive but very rare tumour. Three cases of that malignancy treated in one medical centre are presented. They were diagnosed on the basis of microscopical examination confirmed by results of immunohistochemical reactions. Metastatic melanomas of other sites were excluded clinically. The depth of esophageal wall infiltration varied from submucosa to adventitia, but lymph node metastases were observed only in one case. One postoperative death was noted. In two other patients, lung metastases were found and the patients died 20 and 16 months after surgery.