A Pigmented Lesion of the Vulva Revealing Aggressive Melanoma: A Case Report

Cureus. 2024 May 14;16(5):e60257. doi: 10.7759/cureus.60257. eCollection 2024 May.

Abstract

Vulvar melanoma (VM) is a rare and aggressive malignancy presenting unique challenges in diagnosis and management. This report presents the case of a 61-year-old female patient and explores the clinical characteristics, diagnostic modalities, treatment strategies, and prognosis associated with VM. The patient presented with a painless mass on the labia majora, which turned out to be an undifferentiated malignant tumor process consistent with melanoma on examination. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis and subsequent imaging revealed metastatic disease necessitating palliative chemotherapy following radiotherapy. VM is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma. While surgery is the standard of care for early stages, advanced stages require a combination of immunotherapy and targeted treatments. Clinical trials are vital to improve our understanding of this condition and the various aspects of its care. Collaboration among experts is essential to achieve progress in managing these patients.

Keywords: chemotherapy; melanoma; radiation therapy; vulva; vulvar mass.

Publication types

  • Case Reports