Malignant nodular melanoma of the vulva: a rare and aggressive tumour of the female genital tract (case report)

Abstract

Malignant melanoma of the vulva is a rare and aggressive tumour with dismal prognosis. It tends to recur and metastasize early. Surgical excision with or without regional lymph node dissection is still the treatment of choice with adjuvant therapy decided on a case by case. Furthermore, HIV infection has been associated with more aggressive disease. Herein we present a 45-year-old HIV-infected female patient on antiretroviral therapy who presented with vulval ulcer for one year. On examination, she had ulcerated nodule on the labia majora. Radiology showed vulvovaginal tumour without involvement of the adjacent organs. Malignant melanoma was confirmed on both the incisional biopsy and vulvectomy. She responded poorly to radiotherapy. Furthermore, she presented with recurrence and metastatic disease a month after surgery. She was lost to follow-up clinic.