anal melanoma

anal melanoma

A variant of melanoma, which comprises up to 1% of anal tumours and 1% of melanomas, but 24% of mucosal melanomas.
Epidemiology
Caucasians; F > M; mean age 60; HIV increases risk.
 
Management
Radical excision; chemotherapy is of uncertain efficacy.
Prognosis
10–30% 5-year survival; > 3-mm thick, 11 months.