Undetected metastatic melanoma in the colon

BMJ Case Rep. 2024 Nov 8;17(11):e258953. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258953.

Abstract

Colonic melanoma is a rarely detected aetiology of small bowel obstruction. This is a case of a male in his 80s with a history of treated stage IIIA melanoma on his trunk 7 years prior who presented with small bowel obstruction. He underwent urgent surgical intervention, where a partial colectomy was performed. Pathology revealed a 4.6 cm melanoma causing intussusception. This case highlights the insidious nature of metastatic melanomas and discusses an uncommon location of melanoma metastasis that evaded detection until a late stage.

Keywords: Colon cancer; General surgery; Screening (oncology); Skin cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colectomy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
  • Intestinal Obstruction / surgery
  • Intussusception* / etiology
  • Intussusception* / surgery
  • Male
  • Melanoma* / diagnosis
  • Melanoma* / pathology
  • Melanoma* / secondary
  • Skin Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / secondary