Primary Pulmonary Malignant Melanoma: Report of an Important Entity and Literature Review

Abstract

Malignant melanoma involving the respiratory tract is nearly always metastatic in origin, and primary tumors are extremely rare. Published data on primary pulmonary malignant melanomas are limited. Up to now 40 relevant cases have been reported in the English literature. Herein, we report a case of a 56-year-old female patient who presented with intracranial metastases due to primary pulmonary melanoma. She underwent bronchoscopy and died 5 months after the initial diagnosis despite the administered biochemotherapy and subsequent immunotherapy. To establish the diagnosis of primary pulmonary malignant melanoma, any extrapulmonary origin was excluded by detailed examination and radiographic imaging. Moreover, an extensive review of the literature regarding this rare entity has been performed.