Report of a rare case of significant hemobilia and review of this entity.

Hemobilia, regardless of the etiology, is a serious manifestation of disease and/or injury. It is an abnormal communication of intra- or extra-hepatic bile ducts with blood vessels, and often not considered in the differential diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. If appropriate treatment is delayed or omitted, the end result may be devastating. Malignant melanoma, a ubiquitous tumor, metastasizes to practically every body part. It is almost never responsible for significant hemobilia. An example of a patient with hemobilia caused by melanoma is reported and discussed.