Korean J Med.  2004 Jun;66(6):644-648.

A case of the primary ovarian malignant melanoma arising from a cystic teratoma

• Choi YS
• Jung CW
• Kim J
• Park GW
• Seo YL
• Park SH
• Park K

Abstract

Primary malignant melanoma arising in a cystic teratoma of ovary is extremely rare. Approximately 25 cases of primary malignant melanoma arising from a cystic teratoma in ovary have been reported in the literature. The malignant transformation of benign cystic teratoma of ovary usually develops unilaterally in postmenopausal women. The common presenting symptoms are abdominal distention, lower abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. We report a case of primary malignant melanoma of ovary in a 45-year-old patient who underwent laparotomy for evaluation of a cystic mass in right ovarian cystic teratoma. Histopathological examination of the cyst showed that it was melanoma with pre-existed teratomatous components. Extraovarian primary site was not found. Nine years after the excision, brain metastases developed which were pathologically confirmed as metastatic melanoma. The patient subsequently developed pulmonary metastases and received immunochemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, dacarbazine, vinblastine, interleukin-2 and interferone-alpha. She is on a regular follow-up and continues to have stable disease for 9 months.

Keyword

Ovarian neoplasm; Melanoma; Teratoma

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Brain
Cisplatin
Dacarbazine
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Interleukin-2
Laparotomy
Melanoma*
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian Neoplasms
Ovary
Teratoma*
Vinblastine
Cisplatin
Dacarbazine
Interleukin-2
Vinblastine