Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for anorectal melanoma; A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Anal melanoma is a rare colorectal disease, accounting for 4% of all anal malignancies. Here we report the first case of a patient with anorectal melanoma who was treated laparoscopically. He underwent a totally laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection with excellent postoperative recovery. One year postoperatively, he is now clinically recurrence free with a normal colonoscopy. The literature on anorectal melanoma has been reviewed and controversy still surrounds the optimal treatment modality. We propose that a laparoscopic approach to the management of this disease can be considered when deciding future treatment plans for patients with this condition. © 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.